I think Daiwa is on a money making quest now with this reel.Shimano is the same with there fixed spool reels.WHY pay all of that money for a reel. When you can get a good quality reel for less than half the price of one DAIWA ST.
The tournament casters might like it. I for one would have to save up for a year to get one of them,Then it would be a second-third hand one. But people have there own thoughts on Rods,Reels etc. This is just mine.