I have seen a lot of equiptment break this year, just on my team. My buddy snapped his Donek, another friend broke his binding, and I snapped two Metal WCR 183's. Nothing is invincible, but it seems to me that the higher priced goods these days seem to have a shorter lifespan. Also. Donek, bamboo is the ****. My dad makes custom handbuilt bamboo fly rods. I have been sponsered for casting by orvis and I've fished their carbon fiber, metal, and fiberglass ods, and nothing compares to a bamboo rod. I think you should seriously take the time and money and put forth a bamboo board.