Jason, I have been using barbless hooks for years. I am sad and sorry to say I have deformed the faces of too many fish, and one is too many to begin with, in my early years with using hooks with barbs. No longer my friend.
Yes, you are 100% correct on how much easier it is to release a fish with barbless hooks, and yes, the losing of fish can become a higher percentage. But I look at it in a different way. Using barbless hooks makes it more sporting for me, and actually has helped me learn how to play a fish better.
As for Fire Hole Sticks, and the Partridge Patriot series, the point of the hook is beaked, which means it is slightly turned upward for more holding power, or better retention as you say.
The Tiemco 100SP-BL is a barbless hook that has the same design as the Tiemco 100 101 hooks, and rightly a fine sturdy hook, it lacks that holding power that the Fire Hole Sticks and Partridge Patriot series has.
Yes, pinching the barbs down leaving that slight bump helps, but say for example, in some waters here in Colorado, that do regulate barbless hooks, when the game wardens or Park Rangers check the hook, they use a cotton ball to swipe the hook where the barb was, and if there's any cotton left on that area of the hook, you'll be looking at a fine to pay. Here in Colorado, they are serious about no barbs.
I only use Fire Hole & Partridge now and I am very pleased with those products. Try them out, or any brand that has the beaked hook, and tell us what you think. If you lose your first fish, count it as a fluke. But like I said, using barbless has taught me to play fish better by being more patient and keeping tension on the line better.
Good luck.