sight_nymph....'knock yourself out' ??wtf??
yeah, I guess all of us antiquated bamboo & silk luddites are just out there flailing about with our outdated technology...just wishing, oh how we wish we could only catch just one trout....but jeez, these gosh dang Adams just don't work anymore, nor do these hare's ears nor Micky Finns....if only I had a box full of green weenies, glo eggs and foam beetles to catch a fish with. If only I could cast that extra 5 feet with my old buggy whip of a bamboo fishin' pole....damn, what modulus is this cane?
puh-leezzzzze...just cuz you 'don't understand' is no reason to poo-poo somebody else's preference. Trout haven't evolved that much in the last 100yrs....
To the O.P., if you're hesitant due to the up front 'entry fee', really do try to find a silk line to try out. they are spendy, but they will last for years, with minimal upkeep. What's a new XPS run? $70ish, and new Sharkskin, $99?!.....they'll both wear out in two-three seasons of regular use. Buy a Terenzio silk for $180 and use it for the next 10-20-30+ years....
Or maybe you're already 'in the know', and just curious who else is out there?