Reel Selection - A Deeper Look

[Goooh]

When reading about the opinions on reels, I don't put a whole lot if faith in the subjective replies like "casts a mile", "lasts way longer", "those are trash". All if those talking points are very much dependent on many outside factors.

For the most part, manufacturers will have very comparable products in each of the price ranges.

When I'm looking to buy, one of the main things I look at is where my money is going. I know most, if not all reels except Ardent(?), are made overseas. Whatever. What's hard to find is who owns Shimano, Abu, Lew's, etc...

Can you guys that have been around it a lot fill me in on the innards of these companies? Right now I like Lew's because they are gulf coast bread.

Lew's - Gulf Coast (helping southern employees, but were they bought out?)
Shimano - Cali (no thanks, I'll support another state's citizens)
Abu - Iowa (ehhh, not bad)

What else can you add or clarify?