Thanks for your post bro.
I did consider an FX8.
The thing that keeps me from going this way is that if I want to spend that kind of money on FX, the Helix offers amp models in addition to great FX.
So I can use it for recording directly as well. The FX8 does not offer this. So even if the FX8 has better effects and JMP-1 switching capabilites, it ultimately looses against the better-priced Helix, which also offers me amps and cabs for additional flavors.
Now, if the FX-8 was $800 - 900, I'd strongly consider it instead.