The Hookshot and Clawshot always struck me as an odd thing to have in Hyrule, since Nintendo was going for a medieval fantasy setting. Then there is this strange mechanical robot arm/claw things that fires in any direction and can drag Link with it. It is so out of place every time it appears And since the design changes between each game, and sometimes there will be more than one in a game, that means that it is an almost common implement in Hyrule. That there are lots of various chained arrow firing mechanisms lying around in Hyrule waiting for some hero to rediscover and use. Maybe if it could be explained away as a common Sheikah item for getting around in tough situations, or a typical implement used in the city in the sky by the original inhabitants, but no Hylian in Castletown or Kakariko has anything remotely similar to that.
To me the grappling hook was perfect, it could help Link swing from location to location, steal items from enemies, grab items from a distance, and it's design was normal for the era and setting it appeared in. It was a perfect multi tool that required no special explanation for it's existence. It was not a sacred item built by the sages or a common technological wonder from the city in the sky, just a plain hook on a rope.
The whip could be used for many of the same purposes as the grappling hook. It can be used to swing around in high places, grab items, or stun enemies. And it would not need a special magitech explanation to rationalize it's appearance in the setting. Plus I think a whip wold be generally more fun to play with using a wiimote than using a hookshot to just point at a spot and press a button.
