MCS thank you.
It's been tough tracking down what the actual differences are between models, as opposed to marketing hype and simple name changes. Also, its useful to hear from guys who have used them and made a choice, as opposed to just brand loyalty/dislike. Appreciate your post.
UPDATE
Shortly after the above posts I ended up purchasing 2 purists on deep sale from Bass Pro (or Cabelas?). The Purist 35 has quickly become my go-to for light fluke on the surf. I like the size, looks, feel, and price & performance of this little reel a lot. It fits the bill perfectly for what i was looking for.
For what I bought it for, the purist 40 is too large. It doesnt balance well on any of my lighter bass or fluke rods. Bear in mind, if i am going to need larger reel I tend to reach for either my stradic or 712z, both of which offer advantages in their own way. I suppose it would fit the bill, but its redundant so its only gotten 15 minutes of use. I'll probably trade it off for a smaller model.
I then purchased a rather heavily used Medalist 35 from a (different) forum, as well as a president 30.
Its been fun putting them through their paces for the past year, everything from sunnies-bass-fluke-snapper blues.
When I have more time I'll give my take on pro's & cons. Maybe a new thread. Until then, I appreciate the comments and experiences... keep em comin if you have them!
