Well, this is the nice part about having forums to view opinions, likes & dislikes with respect to each angler for his/her view.
I personally stay clear of Okuma.
I've heard, read & seen to much negatives about Okuma, & not only Okuma but other brands as well according to my opinion.
One of my reasons is, I want to fish with a sense of pleasure, assurance that the rod & reel I use will not let me down be it during or after a long fight or usage.
I don't have the money for top Stellas & or Saltiga grinders, but will look for good quality models, affordability, durability & good backup service for parts.
Yes, give Okuma kudos for making some serious inroads into the tackle market in the last say 10 years, but it will remain a no no to me.
I personally stick to Shimano, Daiwa ito reels & same goes for rods ito certain brands.
Every angler will have his reasoning, be it his experience, his feel after some serious testing & trips or fact sheets, & or that feel when balanced with a rod or reel.
Anglers will never all agree on 1 brand, which makes the market so much more competitive.
And Yes, angler's opinions will always be there