Like you mentioned, as with all lures, confidence has alot to do with it, and keep grinding with it until you figure out how it produces. I have a box full of corkys still in their package. Not much confidence in them for me, yet. If you will send them to me I would be glad to check them out for you. I will field test them and dispose of all the defective ones.
Posts above are excellent on fishing a soft plastic under a mauler.
I think it is most effective when drifting structure on windy days when the drift is faster than normal. It won't take long to get confidence in this method once you get that first big hit. If they start hitting your mauler instead of the lure, it's time to put on the topwater, quick. Maulers are very common and can be picked up just about anywhere. Florida Flats Equalizer and a few other local brands are the same animal.