fishwizzard

I think the Loomis MagLight/XFast spinning rods are some of the best ever for traditional MWF fishing with light heads and smaller thin-wire hooks, but with a more powerful rod I would not want as fast a taper.  So I guess for me the choice depends on the power of the rod, the more powerful the slower I want the taper and the lighter the rod the faster I want it.  

I weigh more or less every new lure, plastic, and bit of terminal tackle that passes through my hands.  Mostly I do it out of curiosity, but also to let me narrow down what combo I want to try my new toy on. 
 
In terms of keeping track, I do it a few different ways.  Jigs, I only use maybe 3-4 different jigs, so it's easy to remember.  For plastics, I mentally assign each one into three rough categories.  A 5" senko weighs right about 3/8oz, so plastics are either "lighter then a Senko", "same as a Senko", or "heavier than a Senko".  This is about as granular as I need to get unless I am fussing with UL tackle where the tiny differences matter more.  

I have the Gen2 version of the FMS and it is amazing.  It's not a rod for open water popping, but for long cast-n-drag or moving topwaters like toads/buzz worms it is perfect.  It's can handle thicker trebles, so smaller wake and glidebaits are good on it as well.  

I have had to pay for a repair on a JDM reel that would have been covered by warranty a single time, a bad pinion gear on an old Zillion SV.  But I have saved like 5 times that much buying JDM reels, so it still works out to a better deal.