I think it also depends on how good the engineer is and the sort of sound you want.

It is easier to get a good sound recording direct and, if you are at home with out much knowledge and experience, recording direct is a much better option than trying to record a miced amp.

However, if you are paying for studio time and an engineer, well they should know what they are doing and providing you can communicate the sound you want to them, they should be able to accommodate you. Unless you don’t happen to have a Soldano or a Dumble / Vintage Marshall Plexi / Machless combo or any other ones of the amps supplied by the pod !

Most people will tell you that to get the absolute best sound you can well micing an amp is the way to go. This is probably true, however by the time the guitar has been compressed EQed mixed, mastered, and finally converted into an MP3, very few people can tell if it is a Pod or the real thing.

Remember the magority of the music listening public have never heard of a Pod.