Rod manufacturers using maximum casting distance as a selling point is a bit like, camera makers using 'more megapixels is better" Both are just numbers that have no real benefit to the average person.
I have a couple of Kilwell 222's and these rods have been proven to cast 150-200m in the right hands. Thats great, it still has no meaning to me, the best I can do is in the 120's.
Like you Hangler, I'm not 'into' distance casting, and only did it as a matter of interest. The rods have served me well on the beach, and around here (Napier) casting 50, 100, or 200m is not going to make any difference in your catch bag. If the kontiki guys can't get any fish at 1km offshore, casting 200m is not going to improve your lot.
The only time I had wished for a longer cast was in the BOP where there was a sandbar about 80m out and I would have liked to land one out past that. As it was my best cast could only just land on the seaward side of the bar and not out in the deep water.