Speyducer,
Yes, the "pencil" lead I referred to in my previous post is indeed Pb, lead. Here in the PNW bouncing Bettys are rubber-covered lead balls, that I guess do "bounce" over the stones with fewer snags than occurs with straight pencil lead. I don't know as they hit the market after I was pretty solidly in the fly fishing camp.
Leo M.,
That varies between rod makes and models. Some might not come off readily and have to be sacrificed and replaced with a new butt capp. I suppose that's unthinkable to some, but I was thinking of this as a means of customizing the rod to a particular user and specific reel.
Montanafos,
The point you make about voiding warranties is worth noting. If a rod maker wouldn't replace a broken rod section because the unrelated butt cap had been removed and replaced, well that is someone I would rather not do business with. I don't choose rods based on warranties, so that possibility didn't occur to me.
Sg