This is the tired old debate of Chevy vs Ford Vs Dodge. Blah, Blah, Blah. Truth is if you stick with the big three, (Okuma, Daiwa, and Shimano) they all make good stuff for us great lakes guys. Do they need new drags straight from the box? No but If anyone has ever had a carbon fiber drag washer upgrade from Tuna Tom then you would believe that EVERY reel should get a drag upgrade out of the box.
Shimano has one option. Tekotas. They have been their staple for a long time.
Daiwa has Seaslines, Saltist, and Seagate. They have some high speed options also.
Okuma has Classic, Magda, Convector, Cold Waters. They have the most options depending on your budget. They also have high speed options.