I have to agree with Kamil. I just bought the XL+ a few weeks ago with the price drop. After spending some quality time with it, trying the various hook-up methods and learning the Axe-Edit software, I cannot possibly fathom how it could be improved... Some of the presets are so good they've actually made me "WOOOO!" out loud or get misty-eyed. In fact, if the presets were the only tones in the box, I'd still be thrilled with my purchase. It's one of the few pieces of musical gear that has not only lived up to the "fanboy hype", it has surpassed it.
Back in December, I got to sit down and play through only the second Axe-Fx unit I had ever seen in my life. It was a used model at our local Guitar Center. I took a set of over-the-ear headphones and sat down with it for almost 90 minutes. I left thinking: "Holy cow... Everything they say about this thing is true. I will have one... Oh, yes... I will." Saved some cash, sold some gear that hadn't seen daylight in a couple of years and hit the "Order Now" button on the eve of the Axe III official sales release. While the III looks impressive as hell, I chose the discounted XL+ and haven't regretted it for a second. Like I said, I cannot begin to imagine how they have improved on something that is already so refined.