No they are not worth the money, unless you think they are. I admit, I own a few high end rods, Loomis, Lamiglass, sold the Sage. But when I was just out of high school in 81, I worked at at a wholesale sporting goods supplier called Pacific Marine Shwabaucher, in downtown Seattle. I worked in the returns dept. and we would see every sporting good item you could imagine. Well, Eagle Claw came out with a new rod called the Blue Diamond, needless to say, we had many returns. Eagle Claws policy was to destroy the rods. I received permission to keep all the rods. The summer that I worked there, I made enough money to buy a Corvette. I was 18 years old. I would mix and match the rods, and sell for $15. It was better than selling drugs, totally legal with repeat HAPPY customers.