I have to wonder - how important is a blank exposed seat on a casting rod????  I consider my spinning rods to be much better finesse/sensitivity, and they don't have blank exposed seats.

Any thoughts on this one?

I think it helps sensitivity, same with split grips, more contact with the blank in turn equals better feel for the bite. my 2 cents

I like them and I do think it improves sensitivity but I wouldn't buy a rod just because it had an exposed reel seat.

OK - would you avoid a nice rod if it did not have a blank exposed seat???

IMO it depends on the application. If you're using it for jigs or soft plastic more finesse type applications then I would say the exposed black reel seat is more important for better sensitivity. If it's being used for crankbaits, spinnerbaits, buzzbaits etc.... it's not as important.

OK - would you avoid a nice rod if it did not have a blank exposed seat???

It would depend on how the rod was built with the full (non exposed) seat on it.

Split Seats, Exposed Seats, etc.

Any time the anglers hands can make contact with the rod blank it helps with bite detection (sensitivity).

Tight Lines!!!!  

OK - would you avoid a nice rod if it did not have a blank exposed seat???

I have an older Castaway Spinnerbait Special #3.  Full reel seat.  Love the rod.  But,   I'm fishing reaction baits.  Only difference  I feel when I pick up another rod with an exposed seat is that it feels a little larger in my hand.  It goes away though.  I don't mind mine at all.

OK - would you avoid a nice rod if it did not have a blank exposed seat???

Yep. Especially since theres plenty of nice rods with them and I think they really help when fishing plastics and thats what I do most.

My hypothesis is that the reel seat makes a huge difference; not only the exposed blank factor, but the material as well.  I have owned steez rods, and now have a few zillions.  The steez has a higher-end blank, but also has the proprietary air-beam reel seat versus the new Zaion reel seat (also proprietary).  The air-beam seat is a closed design; referring to the seat not exposing the blank.  The new Zaion seat on the Zillions is the antonym of the air-beam in every sense of the word.   It is wide open...more wide open than any seat I have seen.  It allows three fingers on the blank, and when coupled with the new material equates to more sensitivity.  The Zaion material looks and feels like graphite, yet is more rigid.  I had been trying to figure out for the past week and a half why the zillions feel as sensitive if not more so than the steez rods, and with both rods having the same guides and handle material,  that isolates the reel seat.  The Steez's air beam seat not only doesn't allow finger contact, but has very little contact with the blank itself (the seat has ridges the blank sits on).  Instead of creating less dampening...I think it creates less feel.  

Hmmm.....I say buy a rod a foot longer than what you want, then cut the handle off and just use the blank only with no handle at all.  total exposure that way.   Of course you'll have to duct tape the reel on.  

Just kidding guys.