I'll sum it up this way, new technology rods/reels/sonars are nice to have, but necessary.
i own a handful of spinning rods and reels, and 5 fly rods. my spinning rods are different lengths, ranging from 5.5ft to 9ft, my 5.5ft is used for jigging in a boat, my 6-7'ft rods are used for casting, and my 9ft is for pier casting.
my fly rods, obviously are different weights, i have 2 older fiberglass rods that were my grandfathers, they are a treat to use and land fish on. i have a mid range fly rod in my 6wt, its awesome to cast and handles fish. then i have my 8wt spey rod, obviously for big waters, then theres my high end 8wt. using the latest graphites and resins, its a power house of a rod, the more you lean on it, the better it performs.
that being said, i still enjoy using my dads setup from his child old, which cost him $40 and is still in use today, Zebco Cardinal 4 green body, white spool reel, with a rod that i can't remember the name of, the resin is worn off of most of it, and its clear lol