I think that "pros" record DI signal and then reamp it with various methods, including analog.
When it comes to DI and analog reamping, one key characteristic of signal chain is noise floor. You need it as low as possible.
Now I'm going to say something that may be considered sacrilege...
Axe FX isn't a great interface for "pro" recording. Actually, it's not even good. According to the official specs, it has dynamic range of 110dB. I measured it myself, and got an even worse value, around -109 dB. That's not good. That's okay, passable, but not good. A good low noise humbucker noise floor level may be around -110 dB. For good recording you must have an interface with lower noise floor than your source. A good interface must be better than this. Great interfaces are closer to 120 dB. And that's just A/D. I'm not sure how good Axe's D/A converters are, but I assume they ate about the same quality. If they are, and if your interface is about the same class, then you are losing quite a lot by recording via analog, your sound gets quite distorted and colored by all these conversions. So for higher fidelity, you should minimize that, and record via digital from Axe.
So I guess when people say S/PDIF sounds "harsh" or "dull" it's actually the other way around. Their analog chain distorts quite a lot.
You may like the distortion, of course, or just be used to it. But it is what it is.
Sorry, and don't shoot the messenger.