Is there a specific reason as to why most bands use a million pedals rather than a Boss GT-?, X3 Live, etc.?

singles pedals performs the sound a lot better imo... and you have more choice about the sound you would like to get.

I just don't see how, though. I've seen the Boss emulate bands' sounds perfectly. So, that would mean it is doing everything their pedals are doing + more.

I'm not arguing your advice, I'm just trying to get all of the facts before I decide what setup to get.

Some bands do use things as such usually from what ive seen they are pods though. Also people would prefer to mix and match the effects they want.

Hello. I used gt 8 ( http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=720 ) for everything. Band practice, gigs, home. It was really good.
There were a few problems with it though, the sound is good ofcourse but i think it is a little artificial. With the effects i prefered, the sound didnt get trough good enough if you know what i mean. The other instruments in the band made my guitar harder to hear which is not really good when i'm the lead guitar player=P
Anyway, i recently bought pedals (metal pedal: http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=130&ParentId=254
compression substainer: http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=148&ParentId=262
Reverb : http://www.tcelectronic.com/NovaReverb.asp )

I think these pedals gives better sound than the gt 8, it sounds perfect. There are many different pedals, and i can always expand with more pedals if needed=)
The only thing i miss from the gt8 is the stage tuner, so the next thing i'll buy is this: http://www.bossus.com/gear/productdetails.php?ProductId=122&ParentId=262

because there are one pedal for each spesific effect, i'm able to make the special sound i'm looking for very accurate

:X

the nova reverb is good.

Dunno about the Compressor/Sustainer, but i know for sure the MT-2 is not considered a good pedal by many. Natural preamp drive is much better or if you want a pedal there are much better ones.

I have a XTLive Pod and tossed it aside for a number of reasons.

First off let me say that I switched to this equipment:
-Boss MetalZone MT2
-Boss DD-3
-Ibanez Weeping Demon (don't really like this much can't get a good wah sound)

BUT I switched to it for these reasons:
-So much easier to tweak your sound with a pedal
-No digital interface on pedals so it's a lot easier to visualize your sound
-More transportable, we all know these POD XTLives and shit can get pretty big...

Those are some of my favorite things about pedals over floorboads like the POD, my only beef
with the pedals (stand alone pedals) and I know that you can get shit to help with this but the fact that
you can't have a overdrive and a delay and then add on your wah and similtaniously kick them off at the
same time is a bit of a pain in the ass. Only sucks if you need to switch them all on and off for/in a few seconds.

Do pedals replace the need of a channel switcher?

Depends, sometimes I'll use my channel switcher and add pedal effects over them but other times i'll use my Boss Metalzone pedal as my "second channel".

Pedals seem confusing as all hell.