If you under that belief - then I guess you also subscribe to the idea of post #6 as the only difference between the two. LOL!

Clearly there are some people in here such as yourself who are not aware of the mass programming-related and mass algorithm-related differences in the capabilities of dedicated hardware DSP units, and the capacity of those units to carry out more intensive algorithms and calculations.

With your thinking a then a Line 6 Pod is would have to be in the same League as an Axe FX guitar amp modeler. And I guess free EQ VST plug-ins are as good as UAD hardware plug-ins, and finally - I guess that free Chorus and Delay VST you just downloaded competes with the Eventide H8000FW. heh

Incredible! Well, I must say - all the power to ya - and good luck with your professional audio expertise! Keep pumping out those top-notch sounding releases!