I have a lot of expensive reels, 3wt thru 11wt, and in hind sight I could have saved a lot of money buy purchasing mid priced reels. The high end Tibor, Nautilus, Abel, Hatch, etc. reels are wonderful pieces of equipment, and their better anodizing and higher grade aluminum that is forged vs cast, along with sealed bearings/bushings, show there worth for salt water and salmon/steelhead guides who spend 200 days a year on the water. I fish 50+ days a year for various species from bluegills to tarpon, which I would bet is more that the average fly fisherman, and have some reels who see use once every two years.
Buy yourself $150 to $250 reels, with the high end of that reserved for larger reels for steelhead and salt water, and save yourself a lot of money you can spend on fishing trips.
On a positive note, my grandson who loves to fly fish will get some of the best available and some of it used very little.
