I'd give the very slightest of slight edges to a tube amps for pure sound. But for convenience and versatility, sims/modellers no question.

I use the plugins for most session work because they’re so convenient, sound good, and infinite, instant tweakability—if a producer wants chorus on that or go from a clean sound to distorted or whatever, easy peasy. For my own stuff I use my Boogie Fillmore, because I can really dial in sounds that are unique and take advantage of the interactivity between amp and guitar—musical feedback is the best

I haven’t used an amp in years. I’d rather my family and neighbours didn’t hear me practice, and IR’s make recording much easier and more consistent. I use a Strymon Iridium and Neural DSP’s Tone King plugin. Both sound great to me.

They are not as responsive as tube amps and lack soul.

Alone, in an ideal acoustic environment, sure. As soon as the drummer hits a cymbal and the singer starts screaming, any minute difference will be lost and most venues are not acoustically ideal spaces. So, playing all alone in your bedroom that tube amp is great. People don’t take the time to work with ALL the controls in modelers, and the best ones have options for AMP controls (bias, sag, etc…). and with some tweaking make all the difference in response.

I love tube amps. However, I have not turned it on in months and my all analogue pedal board remains unused as well. Been using to Fender Tone Master Pro. Of course a tube amp sounds better when dialed in and mic’d right but for convenience and consistency I’m leaning on the modeler.

It is difficult to EQ them. The digital artifacts are very trebly, and really need a tube valve of any size to calm the sizzle. Saxon use Kemper profilers into the return socket of tube amp's by Marshall into Celestion speakers. FOH mix is Direct lnjected and reEQ'd.

Sound wise, as good, feel wise, a different story. 😌

My AX8 amp sim is better than any amp of its $$ value. But cab sims suck. Every one of them, by design. They suck for they are one single eq filter applied to every different note and chord. Since modern cab sims provide an average cab reaction to a sine sweep, a pink noise, and such, only complex wide-range chords come close to sound realistic whereas high pitched single notes sound the fakest. A realistic cab sim needs a different EQ for every different note and interval.

Sims will get you 95% there & nobody listening will care about that last 5%. They're also easier to control/mix for front of house & reduce bleed when isolating mics