Reiter, from reading your post, do you work for Loomis? I was only curious because the way you posted, was as if you worked there (we do this and we do that). Loomis wasn't the original, but he did build his company off what he learned from other companies. Their rods are one of the best because the expanded and pushed their rod making to the edge of envelope.

I know the scientist who formulated the original graphite and mandral process for Lamiglas when one of the Loomis's (can't remember if he said it was the dad or son) worked there. Sounds like to this day he's still friends with them. They saw all the transition work it took to make a good rod with graphite mixing the proper factors to make a good rod. He told me all about problems of mixing graphite/glass and so on. But each rod company over the years has helped build the next one in one way or another. Most of the makers have either worked, or studied how the rods were built and refined/bettered them. Problem is, alot of companies have a tendancy to backwards slide on a buyout. I just hope loomis doesn't. I have a few of their rods and all are great. Hope shimano doesn't ruin them.