my thought is that to by a lower-mid level reel is one thing, to by that reel and then tune it is another. If just starting out I'd spend a little more and get a slightly better quality reel. Once you have experience with them then play away, hot rodding can be fun and profitable.
an age old quote that I think fits bill.
"It's not wise to pay too much but, it's worse to pay too little.
When you pay too much, you lose a little money, but that's all.
When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because
the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do.
The common law of business prohibits you from paying a little and receiving a lot - it can't be done.
If you deal with the lowest bidder it would be as well to add something for the risk you run,
and if you can do that, then you can afford to pay for something better."
(John Ruskin, 1819 - 1900)