We could probably make this same statement with just about any inanimate object in our lives.  Depends on how deep your pockets are and what you value as "important".

Refrigerators, coffee makers, denim jeans, bottled water, Blu-Ray players, etc, etc.

I don't need a pair of $400.00 True Religion denim jeans from the boutique in the mall.  Does that mean they do a "better" job than a $30.00 pair of Carhartt's from Fleet Farm? 

I also don't need to spend $9,000.00 on a nice European refrigerator from Sub-Zero when my $1,000.00 fridge from LG works just fine.  I'm sure both are quite capable of keeping my food at an optimum temperature, right?  Or am I way off-base here?

What about bottled water?  Do I need pay $3.00 for 12oz. of crystal clear Fiji brand bottled water?  I mean, I can get bottled away from Evian on sale for $1.50 for 24oz.  Twice as less for twice as much.  Both would seem to do an adequate job of quenching my thirst, don't you think?

In other words, I can't justify $450.00 for a trolling rod.  But I can justify $100.00.  I'm guessing under real-world situations and scenarios my rod from Black River Rods will suffice just fine.  And given the reviews and photographs I've read and seen, doesn't look like I'm going to have any issues landing any fish with it either. 

There's no right or wrong answer.  Everyone is right. 

No, no... I got my Daiwa on eBay.  There wasn't any line on it and it was still in the box.  It honestly doesn't even look used to me.  I just got it spooled up tonight with 40-lb Trilene Big Game.  I'm pumped to try it out!

Had I know you had a Daiwa for sale... I probably would've grabbed it from you.

my Black River rods have trolled every bait I've pulled up to 6mph. they have great backbone plus a forgiving tip for when youu're fighting that fish of a lifetime. I think they're around $80 a piece. for a 6-rod spread that's less than $500 total rather than $1620 for custom built rod.

I can afford it, and in something like a reel or a boat it's worth paying more. Rods are a different animal and you can get great performance out of value-priced options.