Here is the best reason not to get the hookworm or the big apple, nor to wait until you have more cash on hand:

http://www.amazon.com/CST-Cyclops-Ti.../dp/B002SG174M
CST Cyclops Tire - 26 x 2.4 BLK/BSK

At 11.99 for a tire very similar to the hookworm and lots of good reviews on bikeforums, hard to see why you would get anything else (unless you just don't know they exist).