I was at Markham LeBaron and did check the Quantum Smoke after having read the OP regarding the quality/finish issues. They had one reel left and it did have the cosmetic blemishes described earlier. I personally own 1 Quantum Catalyst PTi spinning reel that I use for my ultralight/panfish fishing. I've stayed away from their baitcasters, and own Daiwa, Shimano and Abu Garcia products.
After checking the Smoke it reinforced why I made the decision to stay away from Quantum. It did not feel that smooth and I felt that the handle was positioned too far away from the body of the reel. Also the handle has that annoying backplay that all Shimano baitcasters have. The only two positive things going for the Smoke are its strong drag, and being lightweight for an all aluminum reel.
I then checked out the Shimano Curado 51 and while it felt a bit better, and more palmable due to its size, it still did not feel that smooth. Again like all Shimano baitcasters, it did have the handle backplay. The drag cranked down, was not as strong as the Smoke. No cosmetic blemishes observed. I own the 201E7 and prefer it over the 51 because of the longer handle and bigger Septon knobs.
Moving on, I then checked the Abu Revo STX, and for the $200 range, this is the reel to beat. Super smooth, bearing supported knobs, dual braking system (centrifugal and magnetic), and very strong drag when cranked down. The reel just felt solid. the only category where it loses out to the previous reel would be in the weight, as it's slightly heavier. Like all other Revo reels, it did not have handle backplay. No cosmetic blemishes observed
So if I were to spend $200-$220 at this point it would be on a Revo STX or if you're lucky a Premier on eBay. Now in the $150 range, the Daiwa Advantage HSTA would be my pick.