This past weekend I sold a VS200 and a few other things and bought a Zee Bass ZX2-20.
Things I noticed right off the bat in differences with the Van Staal:
- drag seems a lot smoother on the Z
- line roller seems a lot more free (I had a VS line roller that was grooved from the braid)
- turning the handle the reel seems smoother, not as tight as the VS reels. I think I remember when the Z's first came out they seemed unreal smooth and loose. The ones I have tried the past year they seem tighter, but still more smooth than the VS.

Will see how it holds up over the season, I throw it all over the beach and am always stumbling, playing in the wash and out on sand bars. The Van Staal was unreal reliable, perfect, never failed.