That's pretty much it, as far as a total hook standpoint the HP isn't significantly stronger, the HP is better naturally if the Idol Pearl is going a little long or is too slow off the spot. More of a shape thing than a total hook thing, pretty well exactly like the relationship between the Halo and Idol.
In a comparison to the Intense, I don't really think there is one, the Intense for me was much earlier and more aggressive overall. I don't have to fight the HP to get down the lane, and I don't have to fight angles, the Intense was just more ball than I needed most of the time. The HP is VERY continuous, part of that is the layout, but part of it is also that the NRG (MicroTrax) on the Halo is very strong and wants to roll forward off the end of the pattern. It's kind of funny, my Halo Pearl is more continuous than the Idol Pearl, or at least more than my first one, while my Idol is more continuous than my Halo was. I'm not sure why R3S Pearl is so strong and reads so early, but I don't see much similarity between it and eTrax at all, much closer comparison to the Fire.
I watched a staffer throw it today up against his Idol Pearl. I did not see much difference other than the Halo Pearl was quicker off the spot. Initial impressions say when you can use one, you can use the other