I think the best combo is something that your not afraid handling pretty rough without cringing but still fishes and feels nice to you. So that's different for everyone. I'm sure some guys don't mind treating a $600 combo rough when another guy with the same combo hardly fishes it cuz they're afraid of it getting scuffed up. So yeah, for me I have a $100 lews reel on a $110 Powell rod that I love to fish with cuz it's light and sensitive and powerful but I still don't mind if it gets roughed up like bunching it up with a bunch of other rods and carrying them out to the boat or setting down on the bottom of the boat without a sleeve while I fish with something else.
