The combos are paired with a Shakespeare reel. It's definitely more than usable for beginners, and pretty tolerant of abuse. If he ends up really getting into the sport, it'll be time to upgrade the reel pretty quickly --- but, for a low cost investment to see if he likes it, the combo is the right choice IMO.

6'6" is a good length for a beginner. Where he fishes and what he fishes for will determine if he wants to go with a longer length in the future.

If you want to get him a better one, go with a lower end Shimano reel. The 2500 size is good for trout, panfish and smaller bass, and probably the most versatile size they offer. Otherwise, get the 4000 if he's just after bass or bigger fish species in general.

If you want to be really nice, grab a Pflueger President in size 35 OR a Shimano Sedona in 3000. They are what I'd consider mid-tier reels, but perform like reels 3x the price. They'll last him a long time, but might be too much of an investment if he's brand new.