Hook kicks generate snapping power, yes. But I'd say to really get mileage out of them, put your hip into them, and throw them with a kind of Thai mentality, winding your hips through the movement, snapping deep and into your target. Hook kicks like this can be used to stick hard shots into the ribs and thighs (try it out on the bag: step into the range, slightly to the side, then throw the hook kick as hard and winding as you can. It shouldn't take too much practice until you realize that you can use this movement both to cause your opponent to re-align as well as deliver a blow of rib-shattering potential.)
You can skip into a high hook kick, much like a hard side kick ("Bruce Lee style"); with this sort you can really abuse your downward motion of the skip and put tons of power into the kick.
If you spend a lot of time on hook kicks, they can be used to break through guards--you can fake a Thai kick, slightly chamber it, and come across the other side of the person's face with a hook kick. Instead of going high though, you can also throw a low one into their other shin.
Spinning hook kicks are also good to practice. If I am to spin, I prefer a heel kick, but if you see (or 'feel') them closing the gap as you spin, you can change the heel kick to a close spinning hook to still make an effective kick. Learning spinning hook kicks then gives you the ability to dynamically change the range of your spinning heel kicks, adding a better dimension of functionality.
But of course, with EVERYTHING I mentioned, you should note that their usefulness is rare, and I'm sure a safer substitute could be argued in every situation. But hook kicks are damn near impossible to telegraph, and there is power there. It's a tool you can use to surprise your opponent, and if nothing else it can slow their timing and plan against you.
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