I like the way the shimanos handle however I like my Loomis's too,that being said how long can shimano keep giving rods away no questions asked? Bottom line for any company is profit you cant keep giving away profit no matter how big you are, If I break the same 200 dollar cumara say 6 times(I dont know their margin so this is a guess) they would have been better off to just give me the rod because they havent made anything, heck just break it every year and have new equipment lol. I'm sure Shimano has a marketing plan and the free replacement has a life span once they hit their numbers you will see this phased out, excuse the pun but "everything has a breakin point"