Thing I believe is what is the true value of some up grades. They may do what they claim but most people will never notice it. Huge area for that is Rifle scopes. I don't know how anyone can justify spending $1500 on a scope unless they have money to burn. But they do and they claim the optics are better, wonder how they tell that with the naked eye. I saw some casting reels for sale on another site the other day for over $400 used! Just looked, accurate ?Reels, $425 used! The product's today are getting more and more like the cell phone I think. Sooner of later the only thing your life will require to be complete will be a cell phone. I'm sure all the research going into things like $400 reels and $400+ rods cost's money but I'm also sure that it creates a product no one needs but rather is a status symbol. I don't know now and never have known a fisherman that buy's one rod and reel and it's all he has for the rest of his life. Another thing I experienced first hand is sometimes expensive get abused by yourself or kids and the expensive stull breaks just like everything else! Spend $400 on a fishing rod and slam the car door on it, now that's a problem.