GB, spot on again my friend. We did the exact same test.

My favorite rod for throwing light jigs is a 7 foot light fast MHX. I purchased the same blank for a buddy and he built it with microwave guides. We saw no difference in casting ability.

I will say that I believe the Microwave stripper guide would be an advantage to someone that didn't size a reel to the blank before building and set their stripper too close. Or, if someone upsized a reel on their rod. Standoff from the handle to the bail is vastly different between a size 10 and 15 reel. Or larger.