Sometimes the VST's may sound different compared to the originals but also sometimes they sound the same. That is my point. Yes I have had BOTH things present at the same time and done some blind A/B tests and no one could pick a thing which just goes to show that the differences are very minor if at all in some cases.
 
Starting with the Oberheim synth. I had the real machine and the VST present for a while. NO difference. That is a hard synth to emulate. It has a very unique sound and those guys have nailed it well and truly. I was also present at a test that compared the Manley Passive EQ ($5000 plus) to the UAD version and NO difference. NO one and I mean no one could pick it. Just goes to show it can be done. Danny has (or had) a real API2500 compressor and the VST and he says he just does not use the hardware anymore. VST sounds perfect.
 
Yamaha has been working with Rupert Neve to produce some plugins for their digital mixers and they have modeled the compressor and EQ. I read a very interesting article where Rupert was interviewed about what he thought of the end result compared to his real circuits. He started by saying he never thought that any VST could sound the same as his real hardware until Yamaha finished this. He said he was amazed at how authentic the VST sounded.
 
Not sure about tape sims. I have have still got some nice tape machines here but I must admit I have not done direct comparisons but I might just to see how well they stack up.
 
I think VST's fall into two areas. They either sound perfect to the original or maybe slightly different in a very good and nice way. Either way who cares. It means it can be done and having racks of outborad is just unnecessary now.
 
The band and the artist is way important to any of this. When that is really happening it does not matter in the slightest anyway.

>  due to my poor English
 
Don't worry that's both of us :)