I've heard that one of the advantages of blank exposed reel seats is that the increased sensitivity due to the casting hand being directly in contact with the blank surface. But my question is, how much would this sensitivity be decreased if I was to apply a coat of epoxy or even a small bind across this small section of exposed blank?

No practical difference. In fact, you couldn't measure by human touch any difference between a blank exposed seat and one where the seat was correctly mounted on rigid foam arbors.

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absolutely none.

Thanks for your quick responses lads. Time to bind away!

Companies need to chnage things to keep the consumer interested, and then they end up creating a theory to justify the change - marketing.

Sensitivity is related to weight. SK2 is lighter than a conventional seat and should be more sensitive. Can you feel it? I think if you add it all up as part of a light blank, light train and light wrap rod it makes more sense than some other seats. Are we weighing hai...I mean splitting hairs....perhaps, but it does give you that extra little inch long place to decorate! ;-)