Wow! I could sit here for hours and type answers to all those questions and they would still be nothing more than one man's opinion. Let me just hit some high points. As far as the old reels, if you're talking about round reels, some of those things would literally last a lifetime, especially the ABU Garcias. To me, their biggest fault was not being able to cast light baits with them. Those huge capacity spools were just too heavy for a lighweight bait to get started spinning. I think gear ratio is overhyped to a degree. Seriously, how hard is it to speed up or slow down your retrieve speed. They do become a factor in some techniques. You wouldn't want to make too many casts, for instance, with a really deep diving crank while using a reel with a 7:1 ratio. By the same token, if you're pitching to laydowns or weedbeds all day (or any other scenario where you're not working the bait all the way back to the boat), that 8:1 reel is going to allow you to keep the bait in the strike zone a lot longer. I see bearing count as being somewhat oversold, too. Having good, well-maintained bearings on the spool shaft will get you maximum distance on your casts, but all the other ones merely allow for a slightly smoother "feel" and act as a selling point for the manufacturer. I've got $250 reels that are on their last legs after about 10 years and I have ABU Garcia round reels from the 70s that are still kicking. So what is the "best reel"? I don't have a clue how to answer that, but I think it has a lot to do with what feels right for you and what puts a smile on your face while you're using it.