So I took a closer look at the Pod HD Pro X by installing the editor - I'm so glad I didthat before buying one! This thing also lacks a proper (4 full freqncy bands) parametric Eq! I'd like to see a model of a high end mic pre such as the Midas XL4, or Avalon 737.
My ideal signal path would like something like this:
input to mic pre (Avalon 737) split to 2 channels (L&R or High&Low), then:
Left/High ch: 4 band PEQ (Midas XL4), '5knob' Compressor (Neve Portico 534, dBx 160, MXR M87), Bass Chorus (Zoom MS100 Bass Chorus), & Reverb
Right/Low ch: 4 band PEQ (Midas XL4), '5 knob' Compressor (Neve Portico 534, dBx 160, MXR M87)
both channels then routed/combined in a matrix mixer.
I may be dreaming, but in a digital modeling environment, this isn't very difficult, and it becomes far more affordable than purchasing all of those devices individually :-)