Hey everyone,
I wanted to address these concerns.
The short answer is that, yes, I honestly believe that this class is every bit as valid now firmware 18 is out. I say that not because I take any benefit from it. It's just true.
The long answer is that I have always maintained and advocated the same approach to the Axe-Fx: your ears are more important than numbers. My approach to these classes is to instruct in a way that is actually pretty immune to firmware changes because, to condense 14 hours into one sentence, the class presents approaches to dialing in sounds that are broadly applicable across the varied users watching. To suit the individual user, not to suit an exact value. So while there is a good amount of technicality, the classes more discuss and demonstrate an Axe-Fx "philosophy" that can be carried across firmwares (with, yes, a few minor changes, but ones that will end up making your Axe-Fx sound better given how much each firmware improves!)