lets face it they are unbeatable in close tight quarters. Ed fished on some really small streams that were brush lined and you could not get a long rod to perform because of the space. Like you said you have to be perfect in you timing. People get all bent out of shape when talking about short rods, they say you have to have the longer rods to cast further. I am going to really open Pandora's box. I used to cast 30 plus feet with my hands only. I did it in my casting classes to kill sacred cows.