TFO does not advertise much. They prefer the mouth to ear way of spreading the word. The only Ad I saw was that they advertised for the Terry Hayden reel (that I am gonna get soon).
I also believe that their products are priced right, and the quality is good... though not outstanding. The cork on their rods is not top notch if you compare it to a Thomas and Thomas for example. The wrapping and the guides are not the best around too.
So, if you are looking for a really nice rod, with the most expensive building materials, you should not look at them.
They are also not the lightest rods around as they still use IM6 graphite.
If, like me, you do not care much about the building materials and seal the cork grip, then, you have an excellent bang for your bucks rod backed with an excellent warranty (25 bucks and fast turn over) that cast very well. I own, owned or used/tested, the top brand rods around (Sage, Scott, Red. Nti Q, GLoomis etc.) and sincerely, I fish with my TFO all the time. They really cast great with no or very little shock wave.
The 8wt TiCr X was returned 8 times by Lefty before he was happy with the rod. I think that rod, along with the TiCr are very well designed.
I own TiCr 7, 8, 9, 10; TiCr X 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and Professional 9 and fish for the big 3 in the Keys and Biscayne Bay (read bones, permits, tarpons).
I fish at least every week.
My 0.02.
Serge in Miami.