Personally, I'm currently using the Daiwa Crosscast EXT 3.5lb 10ft rods. Previously I was using some Greys Prodigy Plus 2.75lb 12ft rods. They are both through action rods and play fish really nicely.
The one big difference I notice between the 2 sets of rods with keeping everything else the same is the casting distance. I've sure I've lost a good percentage of my casting distance. I'm sure I used to be able to hit around 100yds pretty easily with the 12ft rods, but with the 10ft rods, I feel that I'm struggling to hit 80yds.
That's the trade off. The big benefit of the shorter rods is that they are much easier to transport. I because the bottom section of the rods are telescopic, the full length of the Crosscasts is less than the width of my car. I can lay them across the back seat rather than having to load them in from the back and thread them between seats etc. This also means I can take them on holiday a lot easier with a full car.
If you're happy with the limited range or can use a bait boat or similar with them, the shorter rods would be great, but if you're fishing a larger water and need the casting distance, you'll need the longer rods. Different tools for different jobs and scenarios.