[wintermutestwin]

>are you drawn to it because it would create different sonic possibilities that you couldn't get from the original

That's my primary motivation. On my AxeFx, I have signal chains that are impossible with real gear. If I want to tweak that chain, it is a couple clicks of a mouse. I have four expression controllers and 10 foot switches that are tied to different parameters. I can tweak this functionality on the fly. All in a single $2k box.

Beyond all, tube amps are stupid for bedroom players as they generally require gig level volume to get the killer tonez...

[lasftew]

I deliberately bought quite a limited but good sounding 4W tube amp for bedroom practice (Vox AC4). Having only a handful of easily understood knobs allow me to focus on my playing.

I have had modeler amps in the past, but every so often I'd just nerd away with the dozens of available amp models and the myriads of settings, and come out with the dissatisfied feeling of having just wasted a lot of time instead of engaging with music.

I find modelers have their place when it comes to replacing a set of analogue pedals, which is the reason I traded my three Boss pedals (compression, reverb, delay) for a Boss GT-1000Core. Overkill for my purpose, as I really never use any amp sims, cab sims, of any of the advanced signal chain stuff that the device is capable of. I just have one patch with my three pedals for practice, going into the AC4, occasionally turning the same knobs as on the analogue versions, but enjoying that I now have built-in a tuner as well :-)