Keep us posted, will you? I bought my STX when you posted that gr8 sale a couple of years ago and have no complaints (love it). It is my number one go-to reel. I did buy one of those US reels (800 model...$100 or so) because I wanted to give their cool level wind a go. The reel works fine for what it is, but the "Made in China" stamp on the underside of the reel foot instantly turned me off. That, and the finish work on the level wind is not nearly as polished out as I would expect. They make a $250 model, but I wasn't going to pull the trigger for it. The drag isn't anything like the STX, either. Just goes to show you (er...me) that when you got no bitches with what you (I) have, just use it and shut up.