Tokyo to London, not the easiest commute!
The hook is spring loaded, there's a button underneath. Push the button and the hook raises, then pull the string to the side, release the button and the hook sinks into the fretboard and I have a lovely open D.
Push the button to raise the hook, release it and it clamps the string behind the zero fret for E.
The bendwells were done as I thought I might as well use the space, and most bendwell use is done with the G and D strings. Lighter strings work best for the bendwell, I have a balanced tension set, so slightly lighter G, which works great.