i think dollar store lures arent completly bad, today while everyone was struggling to catch anything down at bowmanville creek i landed 5 monster chinook, biggest one being 30+ LB, and once they hooked in man they wouldnt let go, and i was using a 7.5' rod with 20 LB TEST so theyre was a lot of strain on them, So i dont think theyre all that bad, maybe some of the trebles need to be change but other that that they work, the only thing lures are suppose to do is immitate live bait, if its the shape of a fish and swims decently no matter, even if its rapala or dollar store itll work ;-). And kudos for the people that managed to get over 1500+ chinooks over the dam, heres a link if u dont know what im talking about...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mAtgUx0dEW8