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I really don't like any of the Lamiglas 9' blanks. Although I haven't tried the new 9' Super Surf yet.
I'd go with one of their 10' blanks and take whatever I felt necessary from the butt. One of Long Island's top rod builders used to make what he called the "Montauk Live Eel Special" by cutting back the butt of a GSB 120 1L blank. I see no reason why you couldn't take some excess inches off the butt of an XRA 1205, except for the fact that you'll void the warranty.
I'm also not in the "Arra blanks are fragile" camp. There are certain models that can't be abused or pushed beyond their weight ratings, but the stronger models in the line up, particularly the 1205, 1322 and 126 1MH, are just as durable IMO as their corresponding GSB cousins. I have owned almost every 10' to 11' Lamiglas blank over the years, and I really believe that the 1322 has the most power in the butt of any of them. So I don't buy into the "fragility" theory.
I'm not a big fan of rapid taper rods that have stiff butts and smallish tips--for eels, or anything else for that matter.
If you decide to go Rainshadow, bear in mind that there are two series of surf rod blanks--the SW series, which are moderate/fast blanks and fairly parabolic, and the SU series that are faster and stiffer, and not the greatest eel blanks out there.
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