I can't say that I have much experience in the modeling department. I am just dipping my toe in the pool with a Pod HD500X.....which, I fully understand isn't quite what a helix is. But, I am finding after tinkering around with it and after playing out with it that it is really quite easy. All I have done so far is to approximate what I had on my analog pedal board and am playing it through my tube amp. So, I haven't done much with the amp simulations as I am already playing through a Fender tube amp. What I can say is that it is REALLY close to having a bunch of stomp boxes if you are only running it as an effects processor. I can't say that I am fully sold on it taking over analog.....but then again, I haven't really sat down to figure out all that it can do. I bought it used and the previous owner was in a cover band that did quite a variety of different bands material. . And has many patches already in the unit that he used for playing out. To be honest, I haven't even dived into any of them. Sometimes, getting old and learning new things takes time. Much more so than it would have if I were in my younger years. So far though, I must say, it is a more pleasant experience than I had anticipated. And who knows.......if I really get into it and geek out, I may end up deciding to upgrade to an actual helix. We will see.