You seem most of the way there in terms of what you need, you mention Delay, OD, compression, boost, etc. There are seriously great pedals beyond stuff in the multi-effector space, for instance compression/clean boost in one pedal, several OD pedals that do multiple modes of distortion and drive. You have to decide if you want to develop a good sound starting with a good guitar/amp combo, adding a pedal, or pedals, at a time, with the ability to tweak these controls with knobs at your feet. Or if you prefer to buy something that will give you endless combinations, that you'll need to program each, one by one. And then when you are actually playing you will have less ability to control on the fly. Yes, you can set up the unit to do any control you can think of, but you have to KNOW what you want in advance.
I agree about the quality of the Fractal effects, and I definitely don't recommend any particular pedal, or digital multi-effector like Line 6, over a Fractal. But it is MUCH different in practice dialing in a sound on a particular effect while you are playing with a Fractal than with a pedal. Different usage, and very different world- largely dealing with being heads-down in front of a computer screen, or clicking through menus on the unit itself. I'm just saying you need to consider all the factors. I have a lot of guitarist friends, and I would steer many of them towards Fractal, but not all. And if they were interested in Line 6 or Kemper, I wouldn't weigh in, I would refer them to other friends that love those products.
