I did a bit of research on the differences between aluminum and graphite reels a few days back. I found this post on a different forum that basically summed it up for me.
http://forums.allcoast.com/images/icons/icon1.gif A classic response
Ready for some strong opinion on this subject? This one was so good that I saved it in my archive
Sombra
Member since Jan-9-04
68 posts Mar-27-04, 12:02 PM (PST)
55. "RE: Why Has The Price of Shimano TLD's Dropped?"
LAST EDITED ON Mar-27-04 AT 12:07 PM (PST) Wayne, That BeastMaster question is one that I'm afraid I won't answer here. Besides, no one would believe a significant part of the reason, which was political in nature. I'd like to comment, but it wouldn't be in good taste for me to do so.
Now, speaking of taste...
I still maintain that properly designed and manufactured graphite body reels are great fishing tools. Fortunately for that opinion the TLD's history confirms that convincingly, as have the star drag models.
So why change to metal, especially in the star drag area?
Easy! It's purely a marketing ploy to get people to buy new reels at higher prices as far as this corner is concerned. Unfortunately most folks are buffalo'd by this tactic, trust in the perceived good will of the manufacturer and don't stop and ask logical questions like, "Wait a minute here. Something you guys are doing just doesn't make sense. If metal reels are better than graphite reels, how come you guys make both kinds? I mean, if one is better than the other, why not make them all the same way?" Answer, "That's a good question (gulp). Well, uh, lemme see here, the, uh, difference, no, I don't mean difference, the reason - that's it, the reason we, uh, we...well, ya know ummmm, the, uh, 'scuse me, I gotta answer an important phone call."
There ya go. Cat's out of the bag. The good old bamboozle stick has been waived and the victims have lined up for the fleecing.
Graphite bodies will be here eons from now. They do not degrade and last forever. Metal will have gone away. Both metal and graphite reels get ugly in time. Fish them long and hard and the graphites are going to keep on ticking, but the metal ones are going to hit the wall. And graphite reels don't corrode, rust, or get the rashes that metal reels do. Graphite reels can take a huge thump and walk away smiling. Metal reels (not the machined ones) dent and crush internal mechanisms. Graphite reels are very light compared to most metal reels. Scratch a graphite reel? No big deal. Do the same on a metal one? Uh oh, break in the anodize and here comes Dr. Rotskee!
Add more ball bearings to metal reels? Sure, this doesn't necessarily make them better, but it lets you raise the price based on the consumer's perceived (not the actual) price of ball bearings. This, in spite of the fact that bushings often do the job better than the balls and more ball bearing that aren't really needed merely adds things that can go south on you over time - expensive things to replace that you didn't really need in the first place. Hmm.
Do I have to continue, or do you see that "new (actually old)" metal, lottsa ball bearings, Star Wars named drag material bamboozle stick for yourself?
"Dartanium"? Even if the stuff was good, that name would be enough for me to start thinking Micky Mouse was coming up with and naming important stuff like drag material. I for one don't like that kind of silliness and in the final analysis insulting-to-the-consumer kind of wording - "Hey, they'll buy anything that we make, no matter what we call it. Dartanium? Heck, that sounds cool to me and they'll take it seriously, you watch!"
Besides, I think that "Popeyetanium" would be a better choice for a name. Or maybe "Mickeytanium"? Or how about "Wabbitanium"? Yeah, and you get a free ticket to "It's a Small World" with every reel you buy.
Jeez Louise! Close your eyes. That way you won't see the stick coming and it won't hurt as badly when it whacks you upside the head.