I've had the Axe ii, I've had two Kempers, I've just sold my Line 6 Helix... and I've resorted to the AX8.
I'm playing in a gigging band, we play anywhere between 1 show a month to 3-4. For me, it's about portability, ease of use, quick and simple setup time (before gigs and when packing up), so for me, the logical solution is the AX8. To me it does 80-90% of what the Axe FX ii does (maybe even more than 90%), and perhaps most importantly, when you're on stage, do you think the punters in the crowd are actually gonna know whether you're using the Axe FX or AX8?! Not a chance my friend. The AX8 really is a plug and play device which, AGAIN, if you're playing shows or even just at band prac, it's the best way to go.