Mic'ing an amp can sometimes be a pain - getting the right placement, multiple mics, dealing with noise from the amp, dealing with family and neighbors, etc. A lot of options are available for amplifier and effects simulation so that the guitar can be recorded direct. I key on a warm, overdriven, reverbed Fender sound, and felt I wasn't getting that with many of the digital systems that I've had a chance to demo. (If you play in a lot of different styles these systems shine for versatility, though). The super-popular Line 6 POD Recording Amp didn't appeal to me. The Johnson J-Station was pretty good. I'm looking at analog now - check back in a couple of weeks for clips from an (older model) Hughes & Kettner Tubeman. In the mean time I am playing around with a SansAmp GT-2 and an Alesis NanoVerb, below are a couple of clips. (SansAmp settings = center, clean, tweed). Compare to mic'd amp sound clips here.