tlapinski, I wouldn't trust a 5500SS as a light reel for blues and bass as I've had serious problems with that model, but I do own a few 6500's and I can say this, with proper care they will hold up with the best of that type of reel, I have 1 setup I use for jigging for Cod in shallow water that I have used dropping eel's over by BI and the countless 40#+ fish I have hauled in with it. Like I had said it wasn't designed to get dunked but you can do things to it to make it a more water resistant reel.
I've had a Stella almost seize on me as I found out the hard way that that reel isn't designed to be dunked..
And if it wasn't for the Saltiga being as expensive as it is I'd own one, this guy I know has one and it gets dunked often an it still is smooth as brand new.. I plan on playing in different area's next year as I learned alot and missed out on alot this year.. So I'm really going to be watching and listening to the pro's and con's of the new VS. My buddies have the nautilus
out of 4 reels someone is still using his, it's the yellow one that's still holding up after 2 or 3 seasons with almost no maintenance.. but heck remember the old silver series from Daiwa.. Maintenance was a swear with those reels.
Throwing Timber, try cleaning the fiber washers in mild soap and let them air dry then clean the metal washers with never dull.. add a few drops of 3in1 (red can) to the fiber washers and let them sit on a rag for a day to get the excess off then put them all back in.. you won't have to touch your drag assembly untill the end of the season.. last year i fished 4 days a week from may-november and never once did i have my drags fail and when i opened it up there was almost no white build up around the clip.