Not discussed in this conversation is where the rod is made. The labor cost is by far the largest cost since rod making is very labor intensive (made by hand). The higher end lines of rods built by Sage, Winston, Scott, St. Croix and Orvis are made in the US. Nearly all the other rods mentioned are built in Asia. The cheaper rods, say $300 or less, are made overseas where the labor costs are very low. Compare paying production people 20 cents an hour compared with 20 dollars and hour if you include benefits. In this case, Labor costs are 100 times higher in the US vs some of the factories making rods in Asia. There are some fine rods out there right now, the choice is yours as to which ones to try and which ones to buy.