I meant to add some of what Sagefisher said to my previous response.

Even though I use less than high end equipment myself, I agree with sagefisher completely. I have a fishing partner who fishes nothing but Sage. He likes them, can afford them and he thinks they are worth the price and for that matter HE is worth it. I flail around on the same water with my modest equipment and we both have a blast. I will say that he is a much better caster than I am. In this case, I don't think he is a better caster than I because he has an $800 rod and I have a $150 rod. I think he is better because he spends 5X as many days on the water than I do.

Buy what you like, what you can afford and what brings you pleasure. Life's too short to worry about it.