I have to say I'm kind of disappointed with the cosmetics. It seems like they've kinda caved to the prevailing fashion -- specifically, the blank color, hardwood real seat, and grip shape. The Hardy fishing website calls it "classic styling", but it's really not. It's what I could call "modern custom standard".
There's nothing in the Sirrus that says "Hardy" to me except the machine-printed text on the rod. Given the way they're consciously referencing their past classic designs with their recent reel releases (the Duchess, the Marquis LWT, etc.), I wonder if they haven't missed an opportunity to do the same thing with their rods.
My recent foray out with my Hardy "Stream" (their last fiberglass iteration, which had pretty classic fittings) reminded me how much I like just holding a piece of history in my hands (yes, I know they're made in China, but to English specs. That's a whole other argument probably best left to another thread). Classic Hardy styling in the Sirrus would be a swelled grip that flows straight back to a Hardy Universal or a cap-and-ring reel seat backed by cork -- like this:
So what are your thoughts? Think Hardy gives up sales if they don't go "custom" with hardwood? Or am I just crotchety and old?