Have not payed much attention tot that in the last 5yrs. I've just used what I had.
Just in this last year I've been getting into brands. And I have used one reel that so far that I acknowledged the brand. It's a Quantum. I don't like it that much, it was only $60 for a combo anyways. Yesterday I when to BPS and got a BPS Johnny Morris Limited series baitcast reel, I think Shimano, Pfleuger makes them. I'm leaning more to Pfleuger though. Haven't used it yet, so I can't say if I like or not. But from what I've read, I like the sounds of Pflugers.