I started out fishing shimano Knucklebusters around 30 years ago after watching Charlie White presentations, i have 4 of them. I have replaced the drag washers on all of them and also the anti reverse lever spring on each one after it broke, doesn't happen often but it will happen. No such thing as "bulletproof" in any reel, but with higher quality and less moving parts, you have fewer mid-trip breakdowns. I NEVER fish without a backup reel!