I have the 4wt 4 piece and I love it. Of course I've never used anything else, other than a cheapie 20 year old eagle claw 7wt, so I might not be the best judge.

My girlfriend ordered it for me for Christmas from a fly shop in Oregon somewhere and it came with a rod sock and a tube just like the one SilverMallard described for the same price they are listed at. Sounds like maybe the shop owner threw in the tube at no charge on my rod maybe?