F1 can be set to SINGLE PRESET or STICKY PRESET. When you activate preset mode in this way, FS1 - FS8 change to the corresponding preset in the current bank, and F2/F3 become BANK UP/DN.
So, here is what ive come up w as a former hd500 user...
I set up blocks of 4 presets. Any bank, 1 for clean, 2 for a little od, 3 for rhythm, 4 for lead. All w the effects i want for those settings. I then also have a few fx that i like to toggle on or off. I set those up on footswitches 5-8. I then program footswitches 1_4, for presets 1, 2, 3, and 4.
This way, i always have access to my main 4 presets across the bottom, and secondary fx accross the top. I can also set up scenes on footswitches 5-8 to toggle multiple fx on off.
I can then do a whole other set of patches on 5,6,7,8 the same way for other things i need for other songs.
This way, i can have noisegate off when i want it off, and the least amount of fx in my signal chain per preset.
This so far is the only way i could figure out how to make the fx8 work the way I used hd500. The only downside, no spillover. Which is why I think they came up w scenes to begin with.