Pretty darn good summary there and I will agree fully.

I've always viewed rods as tools and the better a tool is at its job, the more I enjoy using it and the more I am willing to pay for it.

Sure you can get most fix-it jobs done with a roll of duct tape and a pair of vice grips, but having a more precise tool sure makes a difference in both the quality of the end result and enjoyment of the process. Generally the more we use a tool and the more precise it's application needs to be, the more we appreciate having good tool.

These days price is no indicator of quality in the world of fishin poles. Good ones can come cheap and crap models ca. Come with a hefty price tag.

Are the good ones worth it? Well that depends.