Parker, how can you say that... I have 2 stradics right here that are still solid as a rock.. No I don't fish them now as I've got the Sustain on one rod and the Stella on the other. But the last two mentioned have caught hundreds of fish each and still work like champs... You ever hear of reel lube??

Any reel that doesn't sound like cards in bike spokes when fighting a fish is good for me (like your's) heck be thankful sound doesn't travel from air into water you'd have the school spooked after hooking one fish... So I have to lube my shimano's once a year.... Half the problem with my reels is they get so caked with egg goo they get a little sticky but nothing a little dial soap don't fix... Oh yeah and a little egg goo on the rod doesn't hurt anything either... :p
Keith