I do the same. In addition, I let the bait sit for 15-20 seconds immediately after it touches bottom to see if something noticed it falling. 1 in 20 times I have a fish on before I have moved the bait at all.

As for why to use a swivel and a sliding weight vs pinch weight? The sliding weight and swivel lessens the weight a fish feels when sucking in the bait. I assume it would feel more natural to them and the fish would hold the bait a second or so longer. If the fish sucked in the bait and felt the weight of the line and sinker, I think it would be more apt to spit it right back out.

Exactly. You can tie on a one ounce weight, cast a mile and fish don't feel it. Can't do that with a toothpicked weight or a pinch weight. If you want the lure to float off of the bottom, you can tie anything on from a top water lure to anything else. Doesn't have to be a worm. I keep a t-rig and a Carolina right tied up on the deck.

When you fish of a ledge and the weight falls off the lure will slowly drop the length of the leader.

I think it can fish faster more effectively and be used as a search bait more effectively than you can with a t-rig not to mention the extra casting distance from the big weights gives you more search area each cast.

They both work and modifications work too some extent but there is a reason why they are different techniques and one requires a little more work to rig. It does something that the modifications can't

The heavy weight will stir up tons of mud and dirt and make a lot of noise, as others have stated. That makes the crig VERY effective. I used to scuba dive broken bow lake, I swear I could be 10 to 15 FOW any where on the lake, pick up 2 rocks and tap them together. The bass will appear out of the darkness and get really close to see what is going on and stay with me. That's with a tank and blowing bubbles every where. They are very attracted to sound, and a curious fish. The Texas rig will not be as effective because of the smaller weight. Putting a small split shot on can catch fish but not like a 1/2 oz weight. This is of course when using the crig and the trig in the right scenario.

Ill tell you this a c rig doesnt get snagged nearly as much and i drag it through all types of brush and rocks

Some good info.

Pinching on a lighter weight is called a split shot rig, as I recall. I think most people think of it as a junior or finesse version of what SteezMacQueen and others do using the more traditional method.

And, isn't a Carolina Rig considered a search bait by many pros?

Not that one can't cover water with a T-Rig . . . but the Carolina Rig is really designed to do so.

A search bait for the very bottom of the water column.

Brad