Never ever buy one of these rods if your a serious fisherman. Yes, if you look you could spend upwards of hundreds of dollars on equipment but there is a reason. Yes the $30 combos will work for the small 1-2 pounders but get into something with weight and you'll strip your gears or the rod won't be stiff enough to cast out where the fish are.
That's a good point and I've had all the experiences that you've had. However, if you don't have the money or you're just getting started, they will get you by. Drifting for flounder or caching sea bass and croakers would be perfect for these rods. Same with weakfish. As your fishing career continues, you can accumulate better stuff.