Actually, yes I am! Even if they're not breaking up, the tubes still contribute a certain roundness and warmth to the tone.
I'll often use an attenuator (Ultimate Attenuator) to keep the volume down and still warm up those output tubes. Sometimes I'll use a clean boost/overdrive to push the front end instead, but it's not quite the same as winding up the master volume.
I used to use a preamp - f/x - cabinet simulator rig. It sounded good to me at the time, but it doesn't hold a candle to a real old-school amp/cab rig.
It's a bit of a load carrying two halfstacks, but that's why they invented hand trucks. It's really not much more than I carried before, with a large f/x + power amp rack, 2x12 cab and MIDI controller pedal.
But whatever works for you! YMMV.