Re: Hardware or plugins? Late night recording other
OP: do you mean, a desktop / laptop format computer running VSTi or a Kemper / Fractal / Line6 whatever format computer running their own processing plug-ins? I think technically both are the same way compelling. It's all up to the purpose.
For recording I much prefer a desktop/laptop/VSTi method. The DAW I'm using is running on a PC anyway. It gives me more flexibility. As for literally recording guitars, I prefer the instantness of analogue amp sims, the likes of AMT, Sansamp etc. I split the signal and shoot one DI for reamping and one dirty through the analogue amp sim. I keep the dirty track as it always proved to be pretty useful during layering.
As for stage application, I think I would not want to bring a vulnerable computer to the battlezone. I prefer simple, military grade solutions there. I'm using a simple AMT M2 pedal on a doormat into the PA directly (and it totally does the job for a simple guy like me) but I see the same functionality of a rackmount and protected Kemper / AxeFX / Line6 unit for someone preferring endless options. As for price friendly solution of that branch, the Mooer LivePre is a damn impressive little unit for a digital modeller.