BlackBlue - we could call it $20 at most. like i said i rather see it go to a good cause rather then sit un used. I think buying a line is the best choice because mine is like 5yrs old and even though still works perfect the lines that are out now are so much more advanced.
Salmonlover - when your starting our learning to cast its best to learn with a dry line because the overall weight of the line is easier to keep airborne when learning. this ease helps to stop the frustration from mounting faster. keep everything as simple as possible when your starting out. concentrate on casting THE LINE not the fly and allow the rod to do the work for you.
and i mean keep it simple by casting with even a tuft of wool (to respresent a fly) so that if you hit yourself i wont hurt (as much) or do it with just a fly on your leader. I see lots of guys that are trying to learn to cast and they are out there trying to cast chironomid setups (meaning with a strike indicator) which are tricky at the best of times, especially when you get into really long leaders
trust me a strike indicator is a real pain when you start learning to cast one
prairiefire - i bet the cheap line you got on the real is that garbage made by Sedge. im pretty sure thats the stuff they put on all their full combos. and yes i agree its crap, it will cast fine but never as good as a high end line ($60-100)