There are limitations with the pin,but there are things most mortals can't do when trotting,ie unbroken trotting from the the reel,whereas with a fixed spool/closed face you have to let line off allowing too much line into the trot,I've fished with a pin in the morning and had an issue with it(dirt),so changed to a fixed spool and gone from catching to nothing,I wouldn't have believed it possible as I know what I want the float to do and it looked ok,I ended up putting the pin back on and struggling with the trot and caught a few more,as for playing fish on a pin,it is the best tool available,if you get the hang of it,some dont. Casting however can be a swine,which can lead to tangles,I find that when the wind is upstream is when I get most problems,it must be my lack of skill,that said it's horses for courses and what you get on best with to achieve your best results,I went Friday morning with nothing else but the pin,I enjoy fishing with it and by giving yourself no other option your ability improves,practice makes perfect...