setup question for beginner

[rmc17]

Hey, all. Hope this is the right place for this. My 7 yr old sons are really getting into fishing (which reminds me of myself when i was their age). I haven't fished in probably 30 years, but a friend of mine has made two spinning rods for them to fish the Manasquan Reservoir, maybe Forge Pond, etc. I would really like to get a setup for myself, but I'm hoping for something a little more versatile. Ideally something that would let me fish with them, freshwater pond stuff, but also maybe something I could use in the Barnegat Bay (I live near the Manasquan Inlet) or the Metedeconk or Manasquan Rivers. I have my eye set on an UglyStik GX2, 7' Medium. I'd like to throw a Diawa BG on it. Here's the question: I can get the 3500 (which is probably more than I need) for less $$ than the 2000 or 3000 model. Is it ok to have a little more reel than necessary, other than dealing with the heavier weight? Would that combo give me the versatility i'm looking for, fresh/salt, pond/reservoir/bay/inlet?
Thanks; I appreciate your thoughts and guidance.
Rob