Whats the warranty with Powell and with the store your buying it from?
I have used 10-20 casts a few different Ethos rods from Academy. They are good rods, Sensitivity is fair. Its not my Loomis or Crucial, but they are good rods. Plus Academy has a no hassle return policy on them. Any Academy, any place, as long as you have your receipt.
I cant speak of the Powell, as I have never even seen one, but after being on these boards for awhile, I have noticed the majority of people who own them here, have nothing but good things to say about them.