Definitely a regional and/or situational element.
Newporters rarely get excited about distance. Mono is still in use by more then a few experienced surf fishermen who tend to put up the big numbers in town. One in particular has the most terrible casting skills you'll ever see but it doesn't slow him down.
I can think of a few spots here where the ability to cast far is really important to park a lure on a piece of structure, but mostly it's close quarters.
If you live where it matters, well, it matters...
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