I've been using the 500LC for the past 4 years probably harder then anyone here and haven't found another reel that holds up better to 8 hours a day, 85 to 90 days in a row of mooching for salmon and dragging up halibut, some well over 100 lbs., these reels take abuse like you wouldn't believe and just keep on going. They are by no means bullet proof, but they are alot like Timex, they take a licking and keep on ticking.