Zak,
Learn to use your $10 (level?) line well, and ALL else can be added to that. Many specialty lines are great.....but a good operator with a level line will be just a TAD behind in performance. You, like the rest of us, WILL have to try'em though.
Some of us still believe that a level line is best for delivering big bugs and poppers. AND.....there is somewhere on a level line that will balance or load ANY rod.
Opinion ONLY.....
.....lee s.