Some good points. My old Alumaweld is the only one I've rowed so I may not know what I'm missing. That's alright with me, considering I bought it for less than 2K. If I went out and rowed a new Willie's I'd probably talk myself into buying a new one and I don't really need the debt. Makes me wonder if I'd still be happy with my old Eagle Claw rods if I had never tried Loomis' and Sage's.