I think that pushing has some advantages, but I'm still playing around with, "is it better?". I've had my best luck pushing, using a 4 oz. weight with a 300 series. I like the 300 because it's got a bigger bill, which helps in bouncing off of obstacles and will also run deeper than the weight. Obviously, it's much easier to hit your target depth this way, but it takes a pretty good rod and some quick wits when you run into a submerged tree top.
I've pushed in the 1.2-1.4 range, but I believe the standard is to be just fast enough to get em wigglin. IMO, it's just as much about the way it's being presented, the noise, and the fact that a big crappie sits higher on the food chain. I'm going to play around with downsizing and different types of cranks. One thing is for sure, you don't have to worry about depth charts when you push, put where you want it.