Christo, if you look closely you'll see I am largely in agreement with you and therefor my recommending the 13' T53 vs the 12'
The 12' is way to stiff hard and not fishing friendly and in no way an accuracy casting tod
Different casting styles require different rods.
For my competition Carp fishing I fish the Prophet 3lbs and i only fish 13' as it is my personal choice. My rods are really soft.
For long range fishing i like to fish the 12' 4.0lbs Spod rod. Being a spod rod it has 80% of the rod as a 4.0lbs and the 20% in the tip as a 2.75lbs making it possible to fish lighter weights and then can cast through to a 150gr weight or even a rocket.
For my long range bank angling casting i fish with a T80 15' Skycaster made for Eu Surfcasting. It's a shit fishing rod but a dream casting rod and with it I can safely fish at extreme distances and I like to use the longer rod because i cast a long way a lot easier with a long rod.
I very seldom use them but when i do use them I make very valuable points with them ie Top 3 finish in the Province on 2 occasions in Provincial trials. Winning provincial league final.
Marius has 3.5lbs Africast Competition rods that he fishes with but will prefer to fish with his Purglas 4500 because he can cast a bol as big as a Handball on a M1.5 and build a big feeding area before he starts fishing. Here it's also a matter of choice. that's how he fishes, I'll fish M0 at the same distance he fishes a 1.5 and it works for him. He's had 4 medals at Bank angling Nationals for top position finishes in both Premier and Presidents div.
He casts as far with his light 3.5lbs rod but loves his heavy Carp 4500 which have a 2.75lbs tip but which can cast a 4oz weight a long way in the Vaaldam wind if he has to.
Much of it is a personal choice and as you have seen Christo i have made no comment on the Beastmasters because i haven't fished with them but Jumbo and Dewalts ne tribals that we have just modified and are busy modifying are just as quick in action as the 365/2+1 T53, measured test curve.
Guys like Dewalt and Jumbo like a stiff quick action rod for their casting style.
I suppose it's much like telling someone that there is no replacement for cubic inches and telling him he must drive a V8 457cube corvette and then the next guy telling him he can get the same acceleration and torque with a Porche 928S Turbo with less than half the cubes.
Same discussion every day in the saltwater section visa vi the T53 Shark Extreme vs Purglas vs Century vs Poseidon
Personal preferences and personal style will determine what you want and what you will be comfortable with
Buy what you are comfortable with, what fits your style and what does what you want it to do.
