To each his own. I know 2B has a rod that cost him about $25.00 for the number of free replacements he's gotten off the 25 year guarantee. I on the other hand have one that is 27 years old and has never gone back and is still in tip top shape. The reels have been very dependable for me as well and are a lot less expensive than a lot of "sheik and trendy" new ones. But a lot of their stuff is definitely not geared toward the SIMMS and Speedo crowd....