All your enquires have been aired before, countless times in fact. As for the ridiculous idea of a ‘creek stick’ or ‘ball retriever’ being introduced, can’t imagine WGT implementing anything ever along those lines.
I suppose you want it to to be realistic, your avatar leaning over with his a$$ in the air trying to hook a ball out, or introduce say a ‘target’ on the ball in the drink, then you try to ‘hook’ it out, similar to hooking a duck at a fun fair.
The mobile games gimmicky enough with a one armed bandit and scratchers.