There is no excuse for new reels from the factory to have sticky or grabby drags. It's unacceptable to spend $150++++ on a reel and that be the outcome. Every shimano spinning reel i have bought over the last 15 years have had flawless drags. Roughly 20 reels, sedona, saharas, stradics and symmetrys.
While every curado and citica, roughly 12 or so, have had garbage drags.