i think that high end products make all competive products better.not just limited to a few companys . just look were things have come in the last 25 yrs. 25yrs ago high end rods were about 250 dollars no warranty if you broke it was just broke' now you can break a 700.dollar every year and get a new one. you don't have to take care of them' slam them in the trunk , door or just step on them get a new one. but some one has to pay for that .do you guess that might be why these rods cost $700.