Thank you for the response about the DSP. But the question about the new line product being already at it's limit at release, without "headroom" for new more complex amp algos remains...
Summed with the AX8 status, gives an impression of shorter life circle for the floor products.
“Life cycle” isn’t an absolute term.... to some it simply means a product that will continue to work and sound as good as they day they bought it for years to come. To others maybe it means always having the latest and greatest technology, but that generally comes at a cost, and not everyone needs or wants to play that game...
For every guitar player sitting there hitting the F5 key all day waiting to get their “fix” of a new firmware update there is a guitar player who is still using a firmware several years out of date on an Axe II, happy with their tone and oblivious to the whole updates game.
It’s just like any tech.... you have people camping outside the smartphone store to get the newest $1299 smartphone every year, BUT you still have people happily using an iPhone 4s with a cranked screen.
I think the whole update thing has kind of replaced the old “GAS” for pedals and amps and stuff.
Guys aren’t searching eBay, pawn shops, classifieds etc for a new overdrive pedal, or other hardware they will buy and sell over and over, now it’s about that gratification from software updates. The exciting anticipation, the thrill of the first boot up, scrolling to that new amp model etc. addictive stuff....
We can’t think everyone follows that mentality though. I know a guy who’s using the same amp and pedals for over a decade now, doesn’t feel any need to keep trying new stuff, doesn’t engorging the “getting” part of guitar gear, just playing.
As such, some fm3 buyers may have zero care about how long updates will come etc, hard as it is for some to believe.
I bought a III 10 days after they stated shipping, so I enjoy living on the edge, and am willing to spend money for that enjoyment, but it’s foolish to think everyone cares about that.
FAS tone and features for $999 is all the more some folks care about today, who cares what it may or may not update to next year or further down the road.