The only thing that Marlin has to do with H&R/NEF is they own them!! The triggers in the Ultras are the same as those in the Handis....whoever told you that didn't know what they were talking about. Triggers have improved over the last year or so, in general, they used to be 5-7lbs or more sometimes, but apparently H&R/NEF has decided to lighten them a bit since they were getting a lot back with requests for free trigger jobs. Creep is the amount of movement of the trigger before it breaks, and breaking crisply is desireable for good trigger control, specially with the transfer bar safety.
Tim