It looks like the age old debate, when casting and working the lure you want a long rod and high speed reel. Upon hook up, it would by nice if the rod convenient morphed to the length of a jig rod and the retreive ratio dropped by half. I guess thats why we see so many different rod lengths and retreive ratios on the market.
It's always a compromise hey! The situation is similar with jig rods, retreive ratios and jig weights and retreive styles. Ireckon is very much a personal thing.
It also comes down to the amount of action at the back of the boat! If the GT's are qued up at the transom with their mouths open - I'd be happy to cast a popper on the jig rod and the expedition / 20000. If on the other hand you are spending the day prospecting the reef edge for only one or two strikes, a bit of length and retreive speed is invaluable. Personally, as I get older, fatter and weaker I tend to opt for the lower speed reel more and more, whilst a shorter rod helps balance this, it will bugger up the casting distance - which kind of contradicts the idea of comming up with an easier solution. I think the important thing here though is to select a slower retreive technique and lure combination (and keep the rod length for casting distance) IE slow chuggers, slow surface sticks (such as Uluas etc). In windy casting conditions you'll just have a bit of extra work in taking up the slack!