Hi Kim,
In terms of hooking rate, I think assist hooks will improve it. I caught a couple of fish with it and stopped using it because due to the length of the code, particularly with big one where angler has less control, the other hooks tends to hook up the other part of the body during the fight and makes fighting harder, just like fighting for foul hooked fish.
With gimbal belt, may people use Fisherman Flat Harness I believe. I use Smitty - it is excellent gimbal and one of the easiest gimbal to switch with/without pin (Brandon - I know you will have strong objection to this!! It is good gimbal but paint is not so good and gimbal will look terrible after couple of trips.....) Also I have purchased MC Works TT belt lately and it looks brilliant although I haven't fish with it.
Cheers,
Tak