I have a new 872 (spinning) and will fish it tomorrow, Friday. it looks the part and for sure the new reel seat "looks" better, the rod is light! But for me at the end of the what makes NRX so special is the insane sensitivity, so I am eager to compare.
I rigged this for drop shot and the first thing I noticed was the placement of the hook keeper, in my case the weight keeper put the hook right where I will pick up the rod, don't care for that.