zeronyne

Do they have a client list? A mailing address? A website? Referencable clients? Written marketing and legal collateral?

I don't think anyone needs to have an excuse to use a simulator over a real amp. If you hate them, more power to you, but I LOVE the Line6 XT sound, both Pod and Bass Pod. Does the Rectifier sound like a Boogie stack? I have no idea, and if you haven't recorded the two in identical conditions, neither do you. All I know is that for the type of music that I do, a tube amp through a 4X12 miked with a ribbon will NOT get me the sound I need, nor will a Les Paul through a Twin. So does that make my guitar sound less valid? Does that make my music less valid? I'm seeing a lot of anecdotal opinion being strewn around like fact on this thread. For the original poster, a Pod XT may be just the ticket for you to get a stable recording sound. It will certainly eliminate a lot of variables. Just buy it from somewhere that has a return policy, if you can.

It's a big deal because that IS what people are interested in these days. Maybe not 99% of the people on this forum, but certainly a vast majority of the United States that would be considered conspicuous consumers. It would be bad business for the media to focus on other things. I think many people have the blame place squarely on the wrong shoulders...if the majority of consumers were not interested in insipid things like boycotting 3 talented musicians because they happened to have an opinion on something, then the media would focus on something else, FOR BETTER OR WORSE. I am far from cynical, but I think we're less than 5 years away from seeing an execution on network television. People will protest, people will sue, people will be outraged. And then people will watch. On a side note, I am thankful every day that I wake up and can actually have time to think about stupid things like the Dixie Chicks and sampling rates instead of not getting shot or finding potable water.