Variable

To me the FG's best use case is when your leader material is thicker in diameter than your braid (like 25% or more thicker), and really no other time. And honestly a blood knot or uni-blood cinched tight with gloves is plenty strong and comes through my guides as easily if not more so than the FG so I just don't fuss with it much. I know, I know - it's stronger than other knots and all that, and I agree!, but life is short and bass just don't pull that hard in the grand scheme of things

Uncut Angling Gregg Blanchard Milliken Fishing NDYakAngler Anything with Seth Feider Anything with Mark Zona

I don't retie my connection knot until my leader is too short and that can take weeks or longer. I use an Alberto knot and have never had one break. I've lost lures to snags and the knot that breaks is always the leader to lure knot, never the braid to leader connection knot. If people are breaking their connection knots I would politely suggest either that they aren't tying them correctly or that the knot they're using just isn't strong enough. B2L benefits over straight braid - Preserves mainline. Mono/flouro is so much easier to tie/cut/retie lure knots with than braid. Line doesn't wrap around treble hooks when lure lands in the water, fouling the cast. If you subscribe to line shyness then mono/fluoro is generally less visible than braid B2L cons - Knot makes noise running through guides (actually a benefit if night fishing). The knot can cause backlashes if your guides are small.

This makes me really want to reconsider my Expride abstinence stance. This brings me back to square one

I saw LakeForkGuy snap one high sticking a rather small fish fwiw (his fault really). I'm rough on gear too, fish out of a kayak, and would reeeeeallly love to try one but that garbage warranty stops me. For rods north of $200 I want a replacement program like Loomis and Dobyns have, too much can go wrong in a kayak. Really wish they'd make Xpeditor available on Expride.

I feel like the Curado rods are criminally underrated.

The 12' version would be very appealing if I hadn't recently bought a Compass.

I have a Compass. I car top and load it bow first and just put a rolled up sleeping bag under the stern to protect the rudder. Works like a charm.

I'd get the Dobyns. Warranty matters to me at this price point and above.