Mine came in Friday. I didn't open them until today. They are smooth enough and I love the low profile of them. If they last a few years they'll be worth it. I do like the thumb bar spool release. I have been using 4, 30 year old Shimano Bantam's and they have the push lever on one side of the reel. It's harder to "ease out" a fish with them not having the thumb bar. I'll keep using the Shimanos and my son can use the Shakespeares since they're easier to control.