Yes, I realize what you have said here. I’m not a newbie...I have been playing guitar since 1968 and around the business world a few times too.
The bottome line is though...IF you can now offer the HX Amp tones in the $450 budget level POD Go...then surely, one can do the same in a mid range amp combo priced around $1000 or so.
I used the original POD, Flextone, Vetta , and PODXT Pro Rack myself back in the 1997-2006 era.
Now, everything Helix seems to be tethered to a PC or Laptop (for deep editing) or additional amp/cab for live playing, etc.
There is no longer that mid-range (priced) but best tone....”all in one” box (combo) any longer.
In short. it is missing...
I was recently thinking of getting the Spider V 120 MK2 for just playing at home...but after reading a lot of online comments was put off simply because at least 90% of them are either bashing the product or rather negative.
I do like the fact that the Spider amps have the Remote Edit app for use with an iPad or other mobile device...that is a great idea, so one does not need to have a PC/laptop nearby. I hope this feature will also be available with the POD Go, then I would be tempted to buy that instead.
I think the trick today is “making a product as good a “quality” as possible in order to satisfy market demand” Not the other way around. Emphasis is on quality these days...not money so much. This generation has way more disposable income than when I was a youngster in my 20’s, 30’s, 40’s. Mediocrity is taboo...and a potential image nightmare.
I will finish up here with a let’s just say of my own :)
IF the global innovation high-tech masters in Tel Aviv were tasked with creating a HX based combo amp for $1,000 we both know...that they would figure out a way to do so.
Just my 2 shekels worth.