Try the leader idea. With about a 2' shock leader and a smallish quality swivel or welded ring at your end I wouldn't think it would change the action much. Surf fishing, I run shock leaders on most all of my Striper plugs and while it may rob some of the Rapala type lipped plugs of action, I don't think it has much effect on Swimbaits that get their action off of the tail. At worst, it doesn't work and you go back to the old way.
As for the bigger tube/small snap idea, it sounds like an invite to irreversably wreck a perfectly good bait by putting too big a hole threw it.JMHO

Tight lines,
Wade

Tight lines,
Wade