This is a great thread and question. I own the VS200 and love the bailess. You get used to it VERY quickly so don't let that be a hangup. The VSBs bail is manual so you'll be flipping it over anyway. I think the only way I'd consider the bail would be if I was live lining or something like that, but my lack of experience in that area means thats just a guess. In the end I think you'll get used to whatever you choose, make it work, and be happy with it. I'd be curious to hear from someone who has and actively fishes BOTH a bailed and bail-less
VS.
Maybe another reason I like the no-bail version is because I fell on a reel awhile back and bent the bail (not a VS mind you but a 704).
The more I talk and listen to my reasons the more trivial the reasons seem... Maybe I really do have a good reason for liking the bail-less version but can't quite put my finger on it (pun intended)
Just a question but does anyone find there's a difference between controlling the consistency of how your braid goes on the spool between versions? I like the bail-less because I feel like I'm better at getting that first loop on there tighter and reducing birds nests