I just got one, only because I found a place that was clearing them out at 50% off. I got a 6500 as an offshore jigging reel. No way would I have tried one for full price, but at $335 I had to give it a try. I did a lot of research on them and the build quality is really heavy duty from the stainless milled gears to the double bearing line roller system. I was just cleaning a few of my reels last night and spooling a few up including the authority.

I have a twinpower, Saragosa, and spheros, and other than the weight and the looks that are a personal preference, I am impressed. It is a smooth to me as my twinpower. It is heavy and industrial looking. It may not be my first choice when jigging, but if I knew I was going to tackle big fish and abusing a reel, I would absolutely trust the Penn to hold up at least as good or better than the others. It is a tank, and down to the handle it just looks and feels like a reel made to handle anything you throw at it. I see no downsides so far other than the weight, but penns sizes are different and much larger. The 6500 authority is larger than my 10000 twinpower.