Ah, @rd2rk you read my mind. So right on many levels. The thing with 7CM is when you are setting things up, you have to also bring MIDI programming into the equation. However, that being said all you have to do on the GM is grab a knob and get it where you want it, save it and then you can call it up so easily. The front end loading is more work than just working with the Helix and the PC. However, as you mentioned above there is the "It" factor that you found with the Catalyst that brings these questions to mind. I know I would never do the 7CM thing live at least not for stereo, maybe for switching back and forth between amps. With two GMs why would I do that? Because one is a GM 40 and one is a GM 36. They are voiced differently and the GM 36 with Tung Sol tubes sounds really good. Plus one goes to a 212 with V30s and the other a 212 with Greenbacks. This is what I end up doing with the PC 212. I put Greenbacks on one side and Cream Backs or V30s on the other with IRs. Usually not much more than that. Reading what you wrote has me thinking that I keep coming back to the two GMs. The sound from those cabinets is just so good. Most small live gigs, I would not even bring the Helix. I would just bring the GM, footswitch with volume pedal, tuner and noise gate. All effects from the Grandmeister. Bigger gigs the Helix and probably both GMs in 7CM run mono for the different cabs, run Redbox out to house or mic cabs. At home, you are right the ambient stuff is really cool and I can run that through the stereo set up of the GMs, or just through my Yamaha HS7 studio monitors. PC 212 sounds good but not much stereo spread for that kind of thing.
Gave me a lot to think about. "You're killing me Smalls."