Interesting conversation to say the least and you can certainly separate the myth from reality. Having owned DC reels since their inception it has been entertaining. Shimano introduced the DC reel in 2003 by the way of the Calcutta Conquest(having 8 adjustments) which took a reel that turned 15,000 -20,000 rpms to a reel that turned 30,000 plus rpms with the ability to adjust the spool speed in 1/1000th of a second. Now I can thumb a reel just like everyone else so I certainly challenged the reel but at the same time was intrigued by the increase in the spool speed. d**n it did perform with longer casts but you still had to be vigilant with your thumb just in case. In 2006 they introduced the 4X8 Digital Antares/Calais DC which took it to the next plateau more adjustment and longer distance to boot. Now I say distance because I use them for topwater, cranking, frogging and want to have the ability to reach out . In 2008 the Conquest got a little dumbed down in distance but now in 2020 they are saying it is back (have one on its way). The Antares in 2016 was done over with some weight reduction with no cast control knob but maintained the 4X8 Digital Control continuing its ability to reach out. I commend Shimano for bringing out more DC models but at the same time they have put a restrictor plate on those reels . Having owned these reels for 14 to 17 years they still perform like new and have stood the test of time.....P.S. On the Antares wind mode I did not believe it would work but it did and laughed like hell watching the reels ability to adjust all on its own while still achieving its ability to get distance.