I'm also with you
@Smittefar &
@Josetxu on thinking that the AX8 hasn't seen it's true potential being displaced by the development of the rack units. Of course there's nothing to blame as they're FAS's flagship products, but somehow, the feeling of abandonment for the floor platforms (specially the FX8) has been quite some for many months, dare to say, more than a year.
The AX8 is my first FAS product and I LOVE it (hell, I even consider it better looking than the FM3, lol), I got it new loaded with FW 5.0 and enjoyed every single FW update with new amps, effects and epiphanies Cliff, Joe Rogers & Co. had given to us. Also inmediately understood what the AX8 IS and what it IS NOT compared to the Axe Fx II and had to work around many solutions for things like DI recording and re-amping, etc...
As I found myself doing more and more studio work I really considered going full Axe FX II, then they announced the III and now I'm saving for it, it's really just a matter of 'when' I'll get the funds but sure thing FAS has my trust when it comes to the flagship units.
By saying this I want to point out that someone asked Cliff this: "Do you think the FM3 can handle all future amp modeling epiphanies with enough power under the hood? Just wondering if you may ever hit a wall where you can only further the modeling on the 3 and not this? Thanks"
The FM3 is not as powerful as an Axe-Fx III. The Axe-Fx III has at least four times the processing power. You can infer what you want from that.
I considered selling my AX8 for the FM3, but reading Cliff's response left me with the sensation that the FM3 is going the same direction as the AX8 in terms of future development, moreso given that the breach between the AFXIII and the FM3 in raw processing power is now greater than it was between AX8 and AFXII.
So, for me: If Cliff and Co decides to port ARES to the AX8 I'll be extremely happy and grateful, but even if they didn't I'm not planning on 'upgrade' to the FM3 in the 'near' future (I just prefer to wait and see how it performs in hands of our trusty forumites), just solely on the fact that I'm going for an AXE FX III.