Good point I should clarify about the rods I'm breaking: I fish four different rod companies and I am always breaking my Lamiglas Certified Pro and HMX rods. My Lami HMX is the most brittle rod I have ever known. Twice it's broken at the tip between casts and I couldn't have told you what made it happen. It's also broken fighting fish.
My Loomis, St Croix and North Fork Custom Rod's are great. Never broke a NFC and fish them quite a bit.
The reason I began this line of conversation is that Dianna at NFC told me that the HM rods are more brittle.
My track record says I do abuse the rods. However, most every break is under functional use within the line rating and not high sticking.
I have never broke a Loomis or NFC and fish the heck out of them.