You are absolutely correct :) carp can suck the bait in from a few inches away and the food goes to the back of the carps throat where the teeth are - the teeth look like human molars - that's how they can eat hard baits like nuts and yabbies. With the bait directly on the hook, you can pull the bait back out of the mouth without getting a hook hold. These rigs are good for any fish that feeds this way - mainly those without teeth in their mouth.