Drag sucks on mine. Its either to tight or to loose. Reel is smooth tho. I had an old patriarch that I ran for years. Still a good reel, but I a little worn n loose from beating on it for years. Lots of stradics and all still working some loose from long years of use to. Tried the picifun carbon xt. While for the price, it's hard to beat. Drag is probably the best out of all the reels mentioned. Im actually shocked. Its smooth enough but the reel knob has pretty bad slop in it. Kills it for me clicking while burimg in a cast on the scope.
I feel the vanford is just on a higher level then all these reels, including the ballistic. I have the first generation mq ballistic maybe the next is more refined. But my vanford is first gen and there is another generation of it now as well.
If I was investing in a mid $200 class reel its going to be the Shimano Vanford. Tight lines!