I guess I am like everyone. When I pick up a bait caster or spinning reel I spin the handle to see how long the spool or bail spins. Is this a valid test.

I don't think so IMHO.

My trion spins like the dickens, much more than my curado d. They both cast about the same distance. It is cool to watch though.

I agree with islandbass.  I have spools that will barely spin for 5 seconds versus spools that will spin for 20 seconds and they both cast very well.

Another thing that seemed like a great thing was bearings in the handle knobs.

Spin the rubber handle knob and it goes and goes.

Absolutely aggravating.  If I just touch a handle knob, it gets it going and I can actually feel that through the reel as I'm working soft plastics.  Annoying.

For me it's a good test because I like to see and feel how it spins. Some of them remind me of car with a spark plug wire off or just way out of time,Lol. What I mean by that is some of them spin way out of round and shake bad. I like the one's you can spin and they are just as smooth as a well oiled machine. Nothing out of balance or out of round.

IMO......

While spinning the crank to test how long it can spin is a good test for checking the feel and effects of cranking spinning reels (the only way it can be done). If it wobbles hard, the rotor hasn't been dyno-balanced.

It is NOT a good test for baitcasting reels. While it might let you in on what is smooth as far as cranking the reel it has nothing to do with how the BC reel will cast.

The only test for that is, set the cast control at a zero setting (no side play), set all spool brakes to off/0. Depress the thumbar/button puts the reel into free spool, and then spin the spool and count (1001 1002 etc). The higher the free spool count, the supposedly better the casting abilities.

Just my .02¢