High End Spinning Reels?

[BrianSnat]

A lot of responses mentioned durability, that the high end reels last longer.  I've gotten 25+  years out of my cheapie Shimanos. Even when I upgraded them it wasn't because they broke or didn't work properly, it was because I had a nice, new rod and thought it deserved a nice, new reel. But even my nice, new reels are generally in the $50 - $70 range. The fish don't seem to care.

Baitcasters? Sure, spend as much as you can afford, but the sub $100 sipinning reels will catch fish as well as a $300 reel and they do last. Well at least Shimanos do. I have no long term experience with other brands. The jury is out on my Pfleuger Presidents. I've only had them for a couple of years, but I like them. Heck, even if I only get 5 years out of them, I can replace them every five years for the next 30 years and they will still cost me less than a single high end reel.  I figure by that time I will be 89 years old.