After all of the back and forth blather over the H-I rod, you can use it for a tomato stake and still come out miles ahead with that neat old Penn. You done good!
And Mike, you landed a beauty as well. (And hopefully you still hold the title to your house).
Mine is this uncataloged Horton Meek No. 6 in the correct box. RARE! You can't really tell from the pic, but the spool width on this one is massive, and Horton lengthened their standard box to accomodate it. Acquired in a three-way trade with two other ORCA members to whom I will be eternally grateful.