Fly rods can't teach you how to cast...
Fly rods are wonderful tools. And in many cases, you get what you pay for. Skillfully crafted rods from respected, established manufacturers are worth the investment. Someone said good fly rods are like a savings bond.1 They are an investment. They return value over the years, not just in the moment. And you can pass them down to others.
Over my years of teaching people to cast, I’ve seen that the fly rod doesn’t teach the person to cast. They can help or harm the learning process. But the rod won’t tell you that. Knowing about fly rods can give you some clues. Length, line weight and action are all important. But fly rods aren’t labeled with “casting style.”