I trust L.D. on this one, but I do struggle with the difference between 6 and 8 pound line. I could see a bigger difference if you were using 12lb and your guide was using 6lb, but there isn't much difference in diameter between 6 and 8.
As I said, I trust L.D. on this one, he's a guide and I'm not. If he told me to use 6lb I would.
However the guide most likely has a "better feel" for light strikes than the client. Especially when fishing for deep smallies (20+ft). I know at Lake Erie, I sometimes have trouble distinguishing the "light hits" from multiple small rocks on the bottom, which often keeps me from setting the hook when I should probably go ahead and take a swing.
Reattacks L.D.?? By the way, where do you guide again. I went and looked through posts but I didn't see it.