I've ribbed the Aussies here repeatedly for their gun control laws, but that doesn't mean I hate everything about them. Here's something I came across that I really like (at least in concept). The Alvey casting reel. Designed for long distance casting, it turns 90 degrees to cast like an open spinning reel, then snaps back into place to reel in your fish.
Very cool. Looks very easy to use to, unlike conventional casting reels.