Clicker and drag are two separate things. There are center pin reels with a built in drag and then there are center pin reels with clickers.
What is meant by “misuse of the clicker”? Isn’t the clicker supposed to assist in fighting fish?
With the exception of a few reels made with an adjustable mechanical drag system, the clicker on a centre-pin is to be used when transporting only. It is a means to stop the spool from “free spinning” and the result bird’s nest of line.
Adjustable drag/resistance mechanisms on a centre-pin reel, isn’t that sacrilege to the design premise?
To some it would seem that incorporating a drag would be the exact reverse of what centre-pinning is all about. Drag free drifts, remember? And while I agree, there are some very nice centre-pins that have the ability to engage a resistance mechanism (some with adjustable tension) in the event assistance is needed when fighting a fish. One caveat of centre-pin reels is they all are unique, with specialized features, histories, and most come with some sort of story to tell (if not, certainly a story to sell!).