santana, all the guys from Collective soul, Pods old guitarist, the boys from 311, incubus, Rooted, need i go on?
if they really stunk then none of the above would use them!
besides if you have to get your tones out of a stupid pedal than your opinion is worthless to me! true tone is simply a guitar a georgeL's cable and an amp, (old fender, or Mesa they are my favs)
you can here the tone without an amp also with prs's,
Snork just cause you cant afford one doesnt meen you have to hate them! i cant afford a ferrarri but that doesnt mean i dont like them!