IMO the stock drags suck on the Tekota. Really sticky! You'll want to upgrade them. Other than that and the slower retrieve they are nice reels. I did have the window fall out of the linecounter on my 600LC after 2 seasons. On the other hand~the placement of the linecounter on the Saltist is annoying. I run wire on Daiwa sealine 47LC.
I'd go smaller on the reel. 30 size will fill nicely with 1,000 ft of wire and your linecounter will be accurate. I recommend the Saltist over the Tekota. Better gear ratio (faster pick-up) and better drag! I own both reels.
LOL! I fished mainly afternoons/evenings last summer and enjoyed less traffic. And calmer seas. The bite was a bit tougher. But i figured out a few rigs that got them going in the funky times!!
I've fished (and caught) for the last 4 years without downspeed/temp. But i just got an X4D and can't wait to fish with it! In the spring/early summer the currents aren't bad and your GPS speed isn't far off from DS (on calm days). I judged my DS by the bend in my dipsey rods and the bubbles (and hum) from my rigger cables. IMO i would buy a good graph/GPS combo before an X4D. You need to know the depth you are at. And you're heading.