I bought my HD500 when I was thrust into the "quiet stage" way of thinking.
I was kicking and screaming the whole way, having to ditch my tube amps and analog pedals.
I had a Rockin tone going, but after a year or so, with the HD500, I started liking my tone again.
I would probably still be rocking the HD, but one of the foot switches went bad, and I sent it to Line 6 for repair.
A year later the same button went out. I decided to invest in the Helix.
I've had it for about a couple years now, and really digging it...
The Helix has great tone. Better than the HD tone to my ears, and the interface has went farther towards my pedalboard layout.
On one hand, it went farther towards great tone and effects, and at the same time going farther back towards the feel of an analog pedalboard.
It just blossomed goodness in my world...