It is a bit like the Ford v Holden debate. I use both Diawa and Shimano reels, and being a former tackle store owner have serviced all of them, plus many other brands. Each brand has a better value reel in certain segments/price brackets to the other. You have to compare apples with apples, its no use saying shimano is better than Diawa when you are comparing ones $500 reel with the others $100 reel of the same configuration, and vice versa. Each of these companies make a range of rods and reels that go from one end of the market to the other. My general rule of thumb in terms of personal preference is Daiwa for spinning reels and shimano for overheads.......although i still rate the Millionaire as one of the best allround baitcaster style reels ever built in that price range. (the ABU classics give it a run for the money though). Before everyone gets too emotional about it remember, both of these companies are reputable hi profile players in our industry and they offer great back up service and parts availability as well as the ability to develope new and exciting products. We should be thankful that that they have targetted the australian market.....as on the world scale of things ...we are only a relatively minor player (as much as many of us like to think we arent).
cheers
Greg