I actually won a Veritas around Christmas and just started using it this year (funny story, it took them like 4 months to ship it due to a shipping error... so they sent me a Revo SX for free too... Because I was so upset I didn't get my FREE rod! That's awesome customer service right there!),
Anyway, I was always a 'cheap' set up user, never liked to pay more than $70 for combos. So far, I really like the rod and reel, very light (lighter than my Quantums, and it's a foot longer), the rod can take a beating... or bending I should say. I put it in the bottom of my kayak and it has to be bent pretty hard to get in there. I cringe every time, but it holds up fine.