I was about to say the same thing Owen. Never had an issue with wear on any join, and I have rods I built over 20 years ago still going strong. If the join is designed and made correctly in shop, then you should never have an issue with it. The only resone the Jap popper tossing rods are such a tight fit is due to the heavy loads they are under when loaded up on a fish as well as casting poppers. If the join isnt in super tight, then the blank can distort under load, in which case the join will wear out. Light tackle rods, it simply isnt needed. But then if the Japs are doing it, it must the right thing lol.