I bougt a mr3 last year and I love it. This is the only model that converts to left hand retrieve It. as far as the armr2 is concerned you might as well get a level wind if your worried about bruising your little knuckles waist of money and I give my dad $hit about using one every time we go out. as far as prices are concerned holiday sports in Burlington WA will have the best. I dont recall what i paid but I know after shopping around they were the lowest.