If it is an unconditional lifetime warrantly....then the cause does not matter. Either legally or ethically. The rod was built, marketed and purchased with and for the warranty. Which is all baked into the packaged cost the companies offer to bring you to their rods. You paid for it. the company recieved its due for the warranty already. In these cases you basically paid for a rod and insurance policy for the life of the rod....and paid more to get it up front when you paid $700 for a $500 rod. So not sure where the perceived issue lies?

Ralph