Good stuff. Like the article mentions I'm pretty sure the term began in freshwater fishing. I have an old copy of Tackle Craft by C. Bord Pfeiffer and it has a very expansive chapter about plugs, even carving your own with a pocket knife.
DZ
Recreational Surfcaster
"Limit Your Kill - Don't Kill Your Limit"
Bi + Ne = SB 2
If you haven't heard of the Snowstorm Blitz of 1987 - you someday will.
Once had a sharpie fresh water guy tell me in no uncertain terms "rods" are used to fish in fresh water and "poles" are used to fish in salt water. I was thinking plugs v lures might have been the same sort of thing.