The question most people are facing when looking at upper end equipment is not the quality; but rather does it have the value.
Without a doubt, the top end equipment has better engineering, components, and usually, assembly.
The question of value is more of like buying a new truck. What features do you need, what would you like to have, what are your expectations, and how important is each factor to you.
That is where making a recommendation for someone to spend top $$$$ should be influenced by what they really need. Start by looking at what you currently have and ask yourself what you don’t like about it or what you want different. Are you burning reels up every year?, every other year?, is your equipment too heavy?, just not smooth?, sticky drag?, and that list can go on and on.
For me, and I admit I am not the norm, I need equipment that is exceptionally light, very durable, titanium bail wires, excellent high end bearings, and able to with stand being used much more than the average. It is very common for me to dump my boat in the water and fish for 16-19 hours a day. Doing that for day after day, you wouldn’t believe how much fatigue is reduced by using a rod/reel that weighs 1 or 2 ounces less.
I also fish a large variety of techniques and on a larger variety of water. My “medium” gear is used from Chinooks to sauger and everything in between. Having an ultra smooth drag is critical. In addition to the drag, is the bearings and over-all balance and performance of the reel. I’m a crank-bait junkie and throw them from ice out, to ice up. Almost scary to think of how many casts per outing I may make if you think of it as a cast per 8 or 9 seconds.
As mentioned above on rods, the finishing costs can make for a huge difference. Again, there is every level of component available these days from bottom of the barrel to the absolute best of the best. Unfortunately, many people by equipment and don’t realize what they are actually buying. That is where doing a little homework in advance can make a value difference. Company X has a rod retailing for $229.00 and Company Z has one retailing for $249.99. Company Z uses a cheap real seat and junk guides. Company X uses a typical fuji real seat and all American Tackle Titan Solid Titanium frame with Nanolite inserts that are diamond ground/polished. Clearly if the blanks are of equal construction, company X is giving a much better value.
Test drive – Not many people buy a truck without test driving. Do the same with the equipment. Ask around and find someone that has that rod or reel and see if you can use it for a day. You may discover that you want something different or that it meets your needs perfectly.
There is some excellent info put together on a few different threads over the last year discussing more specifics on high end equipment. I didn’t have time to do a search, but IDO has a lot in here on the topic.
to justify putting out this kind of bucks.
You mentioned you were an old geezer so that means you probably don’t have to worry about kids breaking it in boat or other mishaps I say go buy a $200 rod with a $100 buck reel and just try it out. Life is short and heck why not. Might lead you down the road of that $500 combo down the road, or curse this darn forum for talking you into the one you already bought 