Advertising hasn't really bothered me up until the past few years. Granted I haven't seen many fly-tackle ads, I have, however, had my fill of pick-up ads and one particular hard-core Dodge Ram guy who was constantly trying to impress me with the power and off-road capability of his truck, as if the ads didn't do that already. Two things were constantly on his mind, trucks and women. I'm single and I hate Dodge because I let what he had to say affect me.
I don't like it when people compete like that, and I seriously believe that an advertisement shouldn't affect someone's personal preference, but I am the last person to succumb to a corporations advertising gimmicks, whether I buy the product or not. To each, his own.
As far as throwing away perfectly good reels, why don't you sell them, buy a couple of cheap fly-fishing outfits, and teach some people how to fly-fish. I wouldn't waste my money throwing away something like that when I could get something good out of it. And if you really want to get rid of them, I'll take them and possibly pay some tuition with them.
May the holes in your net be no larger than the fish in it. ~Irish Blessing~