Agreed, you'll generally find that your shallower hooks are the ones that prove to be your most useful ones.
About those dinky little luggage locks....I discovered this a few years ago when I was playing with the one that came with my suitcase; this is, by far, the easiest way to open one, and no tools are required!

:
1) Secure lock to something (you can just hold it in your hand, too).
2) Grab lock (or the shackle if you're holding it).
3) Pull really hard.
Suprisingly, I found that this doesn't actually destroy the lock...usually...if you don't do it too much
Of course, this only works on the crappy, cheap, quarter-sized ones that are so small you can't even get you finger through the shackle when they're locked and tend to come with suitcases (I've seen them sold in gumball-type vending machines for 50 cents, too

), not Masters or TSA-Approved stuff etc.
Now, if you really want to 'pick' a small cheap lock like that, then don't worry about trying to fit a hook into it--a snake rake will fit much easier, and probably open it a lot faster

!
"I think people should be free to engage in any sexual practices they choose; they should draw the line at goats though."
Elton John