"I feel the Grand line loads it well for fishing up close - about 25' - with reduced delicacy. For casting further out, I plan on getting a more of a traditionally tapered line for 2006."
Strange that you feel that way. I find that line won't load well at short distances and since I fish out of a boat a lot I don't like it. I don't think that it should make an XP seem overlined, that's a stout rod.