I did play around with a Varivas rod last year, can't for the life of me remember what model it was - something along the lines of the Seaside Rambler one I think..........it was not what we might call a "modern lure rod" at all, far more like a typical UK style salmon spinning rod. A few chucks and it went back from whence it came.
That's not to say that Varivas don't do some rods we would like for our fishing, but it's hard to find out which ones are most applicable. I am sure they do stuff we should be seeing.