I have nothing against it, I'm sure it's a wonderful reel. I worked behind the reel bar at Academy last summer and totally fell in love with Abu Garci. I got the black Revo low-profile baitcast (and a super nice Castaway rod...love that thing), and a Ambassadeur C5400 barrel baitcast. The 50% employee discount was very nice...and very dangerous:ezbill:
As for Shimano, I liked their spinner reels...and Okuma's, but I didn't particularly care for their baitcasts...except for the $500 Caluctta with the computer chip inside.