I don't know anything about the E Motion rods either. Have you tried their Cherrywood rods. While fishing for walleye in Lake Erie I caught several big drum on one. Never had a problem with it.
but my question is, is it enough to justify the price difference?
I won't debate that you there is a difference in higher end rods, but the price difference I cannot always justify.
BTW, plain and simple, I can't and won't afford a deck full of $300 rods.
Riddle me this...... how do you know Berkley rods are "China made junk"? I have never seen a/any Berkley A.K.A Pure Fishing blank that has a "Made in the U.S.A". #2 Every one that I have ever repaired had "Made in China" on the bottom of the butt.#3. about 80% of everything Pure Fishing does is made in China. #4. I have used them in the past.......Hence my opinion. There was a time in my life where I fished the cheapest stuff I could find because I had another habit called drag racing and my car said I could not afford upper end rods and reels. I used Berkley, BPS buy 2 get one free deals and anything I could find in the clearance bins......I finally got back full time to my first love Fishing. Berkley's price point on everything is much lower. Who says their $70 E-Motion rods aren't in the same class as the majority of your $150 rods? .....just food for thought... Its very hard for me to answer this question with-out sounding like a rod snob. And please believe me I'm not and not trying to be. PLEASE. I could go all day about rod modulus in the graphite and carbon scrim and all the other crap they use to build blanks but I digress....... I don't know about $150.00 rods because I don't own any. Every rod I own is a American made St. Croix SCIII-SCV at a price point of 250.00 to 420.00....... I do know guys in our local club that fish boat loads of $150 rods Duckett,Shimano,H&H, and many more that feel that their rod brand XXXXXXX is worth every dollar they spent.BTW, plain and simple, I can't and won't afford a deck full of $300 rods. I've paired the vast majority of my Lightnings with H2O Mettles from Academy so I have about $70 tied up in a combo.and I have no problem with that. The only one it matters too is the guy fishing the rod/reel. As long as he is happy that's all that matters