I have used two Ultegra CI4 14000 XSB reels for almost a year now and there are a couple of things I would point out...
1/ You will notice that the drag knob has big slots cut thru the top of it. Sand and light gravel can fall thru directly onto the top of the spool and lie between the drag knob and the spool. There is a little bit of protection stopping grit actually getting into the drag itself but its far from ideal. The designer thought he was being trendy but it sucks from a surfcasting point of view. I use my Penn Spinfishers if its a sandblasting sort of day in the Wairarapa/Wellington. If I am gutting a fish on the beach and I have to run for a rod I cannot be stopping to clean fine gravel/sand off my hands - and that gravel drops off my top hand and thru the drag knob - bugger!
2/ Shimano brag about the instant drag...take your rod out of the beach spike and a small adjustment of the drag and you are fighting the fish. Early this year I caught a 14lb snapper. 20 mins later I had a big take - automatically gave the knob one rotation...as per a Penn Spinfisher...woops, 25lb line tightens in a second and snaps and I'm left standing there like a half sucked black ball wondering what the hell happened. I had actually locked the
spool up. So the drags are really sensitive and take a bit of getting used to. (I think it might have been an eagleray rather than another snapper but I'll die not knowing).
On the positive side one turn or so and you are ready to cast. Don't tighten it up hard like a regular reel or you will break something!
The precision treatment of the gears makes this reel so smooth its almost spooky.