ib,

Sad fact is steelheaders (read driftfisherman) might count for something in the cottage rod market but to the mega manufacturers that produce reels they are an insignificant group.
Now the bass market, that's a different story.
Seriously, as far as they are concerned us backwoods mosswipes should consider ourselves lucky to even have lefthanded reels. Bass guys are still scratching their heads wondering why anyone would be caught dead using such a confounded reel.
As far as the anti-reverse switch, even alot of drift-fishing steelheaders never used it. So in spite of the rise in numbers of float-fishing steelheaders, I doubt you will ever see that feature come back. Unless of course we could get Surecatch to endorse or promote an upgraded signature "251" reel. What d'ya say dave? Maybe you and Bill could team up on this one? Forget the council, use your clout to get us po' folk something really important like a shiny new 251!

Oh well, that's steelheading, "the contrarian sport". I guess it's back to the river with my Heddon 105SS.