Maybe cosmetic appearance shouldn't be an important factor in buying or liking a rod but as of late it has become very important to me. I'm tired of fly rod manufacturers making an effort to 'bling' their products. St. Croix' horrendous dull silver reel seats, Loomis' fish skeleton reel seat, Sage's odd choice or colored blanks and red reel seats. If I buy an off the shelf rod in the future it'll be a Winston or a Scott based on their continuing to offer a traditional looking rod. Better yet a rod from a small builder. I know they are targeting the younger crowd coming into the hobby but they are forgetting about the older, conservatively traditional angler. A few years ago I switched to fly fishing largely because I was sick of what conventional brands were throwing in my face, now fly brands are doing the same, full force.