I'm well aware that we'll never reach a consensus on the list about Hobbs, Hetchins and fancy lugs but, just for the record and in pursuit of historical accuracy, here's a bit of information I've found.
By the end of 1936, Hetchins had sold 438 bikes By the end of 1933-yes, three years earlier-Hobbs had sold 680 bikes
Since it would seem both were producing lugs of about the same degree of "ornateness", that would indicate that Hobbs would have been at least as well known for fancy lugs as Hetchins in the formative years. In fact, Hobbs had probably produced around 1000 bikes before Hetchins got going.
Up to the start of the war, Hetchins had sold 2135 bikes while Hobbs had sold 2202 bikes.
Again, as far the UK buying public was concerned, Hobbs bikes were more common that Hetchins.
There is no doubt that Hetchins ever increasing ornateness-some would say over elaboration-in the 1940s and 1950s, coupled with the demise of Hobbs as in-house framebuilders, meant that Hetchins emerged, practically unopposed, as the champions of fancy lugwork. Since the US wouldn't have had much exposure to Hetchins pre-1950s and virtually no exposure to Hobbs, it's understandable that most Americans can't see beyond Hetchins.
However, from a historical, factually-based position (at least according to the info I have), it would seem undeniable that Hobbs should be given at least as much credit as Hetchins for introducing fancy lugs and possibly even more so. Also, there's no evidence (yet!) that Hobbs resorted to the "mass production" methods of Hetchins when it came to their lugs.
Bruce
Dundee
Scotland