Well, ok, here's my two cents worth. I'm not one of the 5 power chord 'chugga chugga' brigade. I play everything from metal to jazz and everything in between, up, down and sideways. I'm about as dedicated to tube amps as you'll get and I'll never get rid of my tube amps, cabs and huge array of pedals, etc. BUT, I've not used these for around 18 months now since I bought the Axe-FX II. There is a feel to a real tube amp that, for me, has the edge. But let me tell you the reasons why I love the Axe-FX :
1. The Axe-FX has saved me a fortune in amp\pedal GAS in that time. I've not once looked at, or bought, another amp or pedal. My local music shop think that I'm a heretic that I no longer want to go in and buy their new £1500+ 'killer\awesome\monster' (select most appropriate overused common phrase) amp heads and cabs.
2. I now no longer lose hundreds of pounds when I decide I want to sell the amp and get another.
3. No servicing\tube biasing costs and no (they will get more expensive!) tubes.
4. The feel of the Axe-FX amps are just fantastic and highly inspiring. And getting better with each release. People WILL switch and I've already sold it to a few of my friends who are tube advocates. It's as close to the real thing now and it's constantly improving. But....it adds more flexibility to the existing tube head that it's modelling - I mean...really.... it cost me £200 to have an EQ bypass mod made to one of my amp for heavens sake!
5. I now have the most compact, flexible and kick ass sounding rig that I've ever had. With the Atomic CLR, I can play anywhere from tiny venues to big stages and take the same amount of gear.
6. I can set up and take my gear down in a fraction of the time.
7. I have more room in my car and can carry my PA too and with room to spare.
8. You don't get excited about what's in the next release of a tube amp head.
9. It has proven to me beyond all doubt that the amp\cab combination is the biggest thing. I should know as I went through 10 cabs to come to the conclusion that my Cornford MK50 MKII really was a head of overhyped shite. If it makes Guthrie sound bloody awful, it will do me absolutely no favours.
10. I no longer get back ache due to the reduced weight of everything.
11. I no longer have the "Velcro avalanche' on my mega pedaboard after spending hours re-wiring and re-velcro'ing it. I now just the MFC-101, 3 expression pedals and a 4 way external switch. And they've not moved a centimetre.
12. I no longer have to claim to be the best tap dancer on my pedal board to switch between so many settings. I was thinking about the Gig-Rig Pro before, but £700 for a switcher that has a limited amount of flexibility....sod off!
13. The vast majority of the audience don't give a toss what you're playing as far as gear is concerned. If it sounds good, you enjoy playing and it inspires you, and they love it - job done.
Now, does somebody want to really convince me that I really should buy a back breaking Triple\Dual Rectifier with a 4x12 as it's 'better' for me?! Good luck!!!