re: True value: high end reels vs $100 combos

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Having just gotten into trying throwing a fly rod, I can understand why the quality of the rod makes a difference.

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Some of fly rod costs are caught up in the components. A lot of people don't realize #20 recoil stripping guide retails for $15, quality cork is in the $30 range, double foot snake guides that have a decent finish are several dollars each. Reel seats can get pricy. It's easy to spend $100 on components and then glue them onto a $50 blank.

As for the prepreg, I have my doubts. I've built and repaired enough rods at this point in my life to have the opinion that most rods are relatively close in raw material quality. I have some 8wt and 10wt rods built on IM7 blanks that were $45/each and they cast every bit as well as some of the trendy thousand dollar sticks.