Fishinsinsation,

I disagree with your contention that graphite rods only break if abused by anglers. Graphite fiber is very strong but also very brittle. It's fairly common for graphite rod blanks to have a weak spot where the number of layers of graphite fabric change on the mandrel. I've broken two flyrods at such spots, all with my hand only on the cork handle. Blanks can have defects that are not visibly detectable. I suppose that's why high end rods have the replacement policies they do; otherwise few would buy rods with such high potential for breakage.

Whether various rods are worth the money or not is a value judgement of each angler. It's silly for one person to declare a particular brand of rod as the best value, you get what you pay for, etc. It's only true for the speaker. It may, or may not, be true for me.

Sincerely,

Salmo g.