i have an IR that Fremen made 4 years ago that i still use as my main go-to cabinet.
now that i have the atomic amplifire the axe-fx II is getting less and less time. the amplifire is basically the same thing under the hood, minus some of the effects ability...but tonally it's the same or better.
next step is the amplifire in the eleven rack effects loop. think about it; a cabinet loader, plus a bunch of amp models that the 11R doesn't have....and the ability to use the 11r as an effects unit and interface.
the atomic amplifire is the best $599 i've spent on gear.
wouldn't mind trying that 1 out.....
as for the rest of what you said.... WOW does the amplfire have the same DSP CPU's as the axefx II?
I know X-man took his Helix back but I am having a ball with mine. I like being able to load 128 IR's and use the one I want with any preset and multiple amps (this is good for lead boosts by making ones master volume a little higher and one foot switch can swap between amps) and distortions or what ever and I can swap multiple ones with one foot switch (one preset I have 6 fx's one one switch)