Late to this party but... I also am well versed in MIDI and SYSEX programming and also had the "hair pulling issue" trying to organically program the FCB-1010 (click this switch then that one then one more then turn off and back on and rinse and repeat- arrgh). It will physically wear out your hands, back, or feet or all three - LOL
While waiting on the FC wait-list to get ot me and having tried the unmodifed FCB I bought the Eureka EPROM folks seem to swear by. But it can't be programmed and is out of date for one-to-one use use with FX III, it is great if you have a FX-II or Kemper or... So then moved onto the Uno chip and Uno software editor. Now with Uno and a PC, programming the FCB1010 is a breeze (assuming you DO understand MIDI) - not as easy as programming the FC-6 from the AXE Editor but not rocket science either.
Although, you can ONLY program the FCB with an Uno EPROM from a PC using the Uno SW. So at HOME use that's fine, not so much fro "on the fly" or at a show. Of course, I can't imagine trying to re-program ANY multi-function or MIDI footswitch on the fly at ANY show. May as well just put guitar on a stand and take a break or worse call a "knock it off" and give money back.
To be fair, to program the FC-6 or FC-12 "on the fly" when NOT using free PC Axe Editor would also be a "less than light speed" and less than pain free using the FX-III front panel. Not hard, but again not something I'd want to do mid-show "on the fly" or at a show.
I eventually got moved up in the wait-list queue and got an FC-6. Yes it is much easier "use." But primarily because of plain text read-outs, color coding LED's LED intensities, etc. You have visual feedback and KNOW what is being turned on or off, what's being incremented/decremented, etc. But you still need to buy/add expression pedals (built into FCB1010) assumign you use any for wahs, volume swells/control, etc. FWIW I still added a 4-switch "stand-in" switch box (home built) hooked to FC-6. That frees up four functions/switches from the FC-6 that can now be used for other things - effectively almost doubling my FC-6 capability!
Plus I added three "foot controllable" pots to that home-built box (they are same size and act like foot pot's on Mojo Vibe or Deja Vibe or pedals like those) . I use those to adjust FX-III parameters such as uni-vibe speed, chorus speed, delay feedback/repeats, drive depth/grit, whatever and use the forth expression pedal input on FC-6 for use with an actual foot expression pedal, a Mission SP-1. Plus I have two expression pedals directly hooked to back of FX III's inputs.
My FCB-1010 is now mainly used for all my other MIDI gear (keyboard synths/controllers, rack synths and MIDI capable FX, as well as PC DAW use) but can be switched into FX III, via multiple rack mounted MIDI patch bays, for even more FX-III " fun with buttons" as and if needed.
To be very redundant and way over kill (more many than talent here) I added a Melo Audio MIDI Commander to the FX III. I'm drowning in foot switchable capabilities.
