yeah, +1 on everything metalsound said. You have to think of the Axe-Fx as a recording tool,
live amp sim and effects unit. And especially the effects are really awesome on the Axe-Fx.
A friend of mine for example plays in a band that's more in the vein of Muse, so he needs loads
of effects and different amp sounds.
Even for the chorus, phasers and so on, he would have spend more money than on the Axe-Fx
alone, but he gets even more with the Axe-Fx.
It's not like other guys spend even more than the Axe-Fx costs for an Eventide unit, but almost
everybody says "oh yeah, that thing sounds awesome, that's why it costs so much", but for the
Axe-Fx most people say "damn, that thing is just all digital and still costs so much!".
No I am not paid by Fractal Audio, would love to own an Axe-Fx, but I don't have one, just had
the time to try one for some time and I really like it.
No problem if you don't like it, but to say it's overpriced or junk is just bs.
And like Soultrash said, outside of the US the prices are very different, I could get the Axe-Fx
with a Peavey 50/50 poweramp and a decent 2x12 for the price of a new Dual Recto.