Hmmm... I'm wondering if I was perhaps unclear on one point about the drag -- I want one! So cranking down drags all the way (or reels absent one) isn't what I'm shooting for...

Similar to a fly/knucklebuster reel, if you release the crank, the drag is present and works nicely. The Ambassadeurs -- the descriptions I'm reading say there's 'no star drag', as an example.

EDIT - Okay, I read more and there IS a drag on those Ambassadeurs, that looks like the one! Thanks!