i've owned all kinds of rods over the years in different price brackets. higher end rods usually get you higher end components, which does make a nicer rod to fish with.

since i took up building my own blanks about 7 years ago, i've found that i prefer a middle modulus(and therefore middle price range) blank spun up with nice cork and alconite guides to just about anything. most of them are lamiglas G1000 blanks, which i find combine a good combination of durability and sensitivity.

as far as a rod making one successful, i think you get good quality starting at about the 80 dollar mark for a finished rod, and after you get past the $150 mark you start to see diminishing returns.