Interesting theroy.
I am still a newby doing the prefish thing. I always found when I prefished, it was good to land a couple of fish just to see what was in the area.
Then I prefished with a few others with many years experience,and they did the turn hook thing, and just brought the fish to the surface or close too, to see what was there ,without stinging the fish.I use both methods depending on the area I am fishing. I did find doing the turned hooked on docks and floating swim platforms, did serve me better,and the ones in the deeper waters,it did not bother them.
If your not familer with an area,I would say what Steve did was correct. Then again if you know the area and know fish are there or should be there,then a turned hooked is the way to go.
I was also told that a bucket once stuck,will hit later i the days then a smallie.
I am just speaking from my min of experience.