I have a 8wt and like it. However, I just bought a 5 wt 11 foot switch and a 300 gr line for it for sink tips when the water is heavy and I am on larger streams like Oil Creek and French creek for trout and smallies. One thing I really dislike is retriving flies out of the bushes behind me and the 5 wt will allow me to roll/spey cast to around 70 feet w heaver streamers from what I researched. It will also work for nymph rigs and larger drys.
PM me next week after the weekend and I will let ya know How I like it.
With my 8wt 9foot I can roll cast and single handed spey about 40 foot with a #6 streamer in tow. It is a shooting head wluff ambush triangle taper in 290 grain weight which is considered a 8 wt. Youtube switch rod casting and you will see what I am talking about not losing flies due to not having to backcast to reach those hard to fish places.
Greg
p.s. I do steel head fish w my 8wt orvis frequent flyer and it does have enough back bone for the fastest steelhead. Had a BIG musky on once and had he not broke off it would have been a long fight. I bet he was 40 inches.

I use/own a Sage Launch 8wt. I use mostly for PA bass on rivers and lakes, I usually throw larger than normal flies. I purchased the rod for a bonefish trip in the Bahamas but find myself using the rod more and more on around here. The larger line helps me throw large hairy bugs and poppers easier.

I beleive a 6 and 8 wt rods to be different animals.

If I were buying in todays market, I would again look closely at Sage's offerings... Don't forget, used rods are your friends...