Yeah , I totaly agree with You .
In my case the Digital effex like BassPodXtPro totaly kiled my sound , I think it is good for cheap basses but not for Warwick or boutique basses & for sure if You have a good amp You dont need it as a simulation.
I have an Eden amp & now I bought a Phil Jones amp & the simulation of the Eden in the Pod is nothing to do with the real thing....beleive me If the simulations were like the real thing but 1/4 price , why to buy the real thing .....-)
After trying some effects for bass , in the end I have returned everything back , I prefer to play the pure bass sound , just with a compressor for slap I can use chorus for fretless from time to time & Envelop filter or wah if i want , but 99% of the time I'll play just pure bass. I dont want all this effects to color my sound
Well thats my opinion only....