Spinning rod question

I was in my local Gander Mountain today noodling through their left-over
rods from last year. It appears they have not yet begun to stock up for the
spring season up here in MI.

I took a look at some of their Titanium IM-8 or 9s that generally run around
$150. Nice balance and feel to them. I noticed that the first guide,
nearest to the reel seat, was offset from all the other guides. So, I
looked at the next spinning rod and saw the same thing. A Shimano had the
same thing going on to a little bit lesser degree.

Then I started looking at some other brands and saw the guides all lined up
without the offset guide.

Is there something going on here with the first guide being offset that I
have not noticed previously? I bought a very nice Shimano Crucial last year
that did not have an offset. Quality control problems on these rods
perhaps? Maybe I have just missed something new in rod design here. Any
thoughts?