Geoff,
You really don't understand what Meiser was talking about. His Highlander Series rods are progressive action. Just because the mid and bottom sections are a bit regressed from a true progressive increase in blank diameter and/or wall thickness as the blank moves from its tip to its butt does not mean the rod is not a progressive action. Meiser is really talking about how a rod with a substancial, stiff tip that helps aerialize long lengths of line or heavy sink tips can then be made into a very fine casting tool that is not overly stiff, while still maintaining a progressive action through the judicious small incremental regression of its middle and butt.
Also, just because a rod is a true regressive, it doesn't mean the rod is doing the work, anymore than a fast, progressive rod requires the caster to do all the work. The truth is that any rod requires the caster to "work" and energize the rod properly whether the rod is a slow, regressive or a fast, progressive one.
Once you understand these things, Meiser's descriptions of progressive and regressive along with how they are utilized in designing a rod make perfect sense.