I guess I don't understand the obsession with the resin coverstock.

The resin additive makes covers act like softer covers whenever they encounter friction. So they slide in oil and hook on dry. While it being added to harder coverstock may tone this down some I would still think the same reaction would occur. If you are on really dry lanes it would still hook to early. You could achieve essentially the same results by using regular polished urethane or plastic.

I haven't really looked for one but manufactures still should offer a urethane ball that is pearlized and would run around 80 on the hardness scale. These would be similiar to the old pearl hammers. If they don't they should. For real desert conditions then plastic would take over.