Big Fish - that 6500 TCST is a C4 with the 5.3-1 instead of 6.3-1 gear ratio (better for bass IMO) and it comes stock with the power handle for less money than the 6500C4 out of the box. All you need to do with this reel is add a set of Extreme Smoothie drag washers - roughly 8 bucks - and you have a pretty schweet plug / eeling reel for a bit less than $100... It's not a Calcutta 400 but it's probably 88% as good for less than half the dough... It does need to be stripped and cleaned a little more frequently than the Calcutta

Penn Slammer
 

Buzz,

I agree the Penn slammer series are heavier reels. All it took was me to accept the weight change and get used to fishing with it. I have taken fish up to 30lbs on the 360 and up to 43lbs on the 460. I have yet to land anything over 35lbs with the 560 but I fugure it will do the job.
I run the 360 on a Loomis 7' mid, the 460 on a 8' mid and the 560 on a 9'6" mid -fast. They handle a lot of fishing. I live in a place where no spot is more than a 30 minute drive (and that is Great Point). I fish April (except this year) to November/December and probably have put a 500 hours on these reels with no issues.

I have never owned a VS but have seen numerous rookies screw themselves bad with numerous faults. But, firsthand, that is all I have seen. Rookies. That should probably say it all. Experienced fisherman seem to have few problems.
Since I entered the four leg and only landed 30" fish and smaller this weekend maybe I should work on my fishing as opposed to some one elses.

Did any of you folks on the mainland get 70mph gusts today ?
I am sure hoping that these guys are hungry tomorrow.

Tight lines