I'd be especially concerned subjecting an amp to that kind of abuse night after night after night while off in unfamiliar territory, because one day I hope to tour with the band I'm starting (you know, crappy white van, living off of beans, stewed tomatoes, and 39 cent hamburgers, playing crap-hole venues for a few dozen local crap-heads, that whole thing).
That kind of garbage is not all I play. I'm the kind of player who wants to go from clean jazzy tones to reverbed surf rock to dirty blues to vintage heavy metal to extreme death-grind-noise-puke within the span of a 2.5 minute quick and dirty number, and all with but a stomp of a pedal.
Or, imagine wanking around very fast and aggressively with an aluminum slide on the upper registers while running it through the Death Metal Pedal and doing out-of-nowhere finger-taps at the 22nd-24th frets. If you've ever heard "Bored Elephant" by Melt-Banana, you know of what I speak.
So, what amps/cabs: 1) Can take that kind of abuse with aplomb; 2) have the kind of versatility I require; 3) don't sound like crap; 4) and don't cost as much as a 2003 Honda Accord?
For head + 4x12 cab?
For 2x12 combo?
And, what about taking such an amp and then seriously beefing it up with aftermarket parts (tubes, speakers, wiring, etc. etc.)?
