G'day all
Shimano have given some indication of a new reel that will perform better than the current Spheros (even upgraded models) and cheaper than Stella. Upgrades to current Spheros don't address the surface area of the drag washers, three washers about the size of 10 cent pieces can only provide so much performance no matter what they're made of.
The reel, if it becomes a reality, should be a good thing, however, it's best to remember that you can't get Porsche performance at a Hyundai price point.
Neil