Chris,the reason I started this thread is I am interested in others points of view on the subject,there is no modern coarse rod that I cannot afford,my issues are that if I were to spend big bucks the rods would need to be a fair bit better than the ones I have now,something that I don't see very much,when I picked the sphere up I thought it was a little too responsive,but that is my feeling,every angler has preferences,I wish I'd bought an Avenger 2000 when they came out,if they were still being made today I might pay big money for one,many of the rods I have are not the best money can buy,or not what I thought they were going to be but,they still do a job,I fully understand your own enjoyment in buying float rods,i've done it,how many have you and I bought that were not what we'd hoped,one of the worst I bought was the hardy marksman 13ft float,I only had it a month before I was shot of it,vastly over priced and not the action I wanted....