Ok folks, after more extensive testing and recommendations from Mr. Hickland, I'm convinced that the Hook Again product DOES work...to a certain degree.
When I re-used the hook again compound to treat another dead ball (an Ebonite Matrix Trimax), the results were, as ambi1 predicted, not as good...although the hook for the Matrix was restored a little. I guess it really isn't wise to re-use the stuff after all.
Sir-Bowl-A-Lot, I think the main purpose of the product is to extract the plasticizer from the dead ball, in addition to removing oil and dirt...at least thats what the product brochure says. Honestly I have no idea how a dry substance like that could extract anything from a ball and still look the same 24 hours later, but it works and its effects appear to be lasting, so I'm happy
Just another observation: I noticed that all the balls I treated had very little oil rings on them when I threw them on fresh lanes. I had an untreated and 1-week old Fuze Detonator showing more oil rings than the treated inferno.
Bjaardker: That product you mentioned looks suspiciously similar to the hook-again compound...I just might order some of that and field test it.