ohgrant
Only Kramer plug I have now is the tape sim. It has loads of presets. I confess I do use them as a starting point and tweek from there, esspecially an effect that has many parameters like the Kramer tape sim with questionable parameter titles such as "Wow and Flutter" and "Noise"
I just can't see much logic in not using presets as a shortcut to get the sound your looking for. I don't really think setting all parameters up manually to get to the same place that getting close with a preset and some minor tweeks would have taken you. Same destination just different road. If someone wants to choose the scenic route that's OK with me. Just not my thing.
Pretty much exactly the way I work Grant.
Occasionally, as I pointed out in earlier in this thread, I've been blessed to have a preset actually be what I wanted (or thought I wanted) without a tweak.
Sometimes, to me, the preset argument/debate is much like the synth vs. paid player argument of the 80's. Not that I expect anyone to turn around in 20 or 30 years from now and say "oh man, how did we ever live without presets", but the debate seems vaguely familiar (to me).
Like you, I believe those who take the "scenic route" are entitled to their belief that it's the "only way" and for them it is. I just ask them to consider not saying (to the public at large) "presets don't work" without at least a "for me, YMMV" qualifier. But, I can't demand that now can I?
And yes, I support the argument that "presets don't necessarily teach you how/why it does what it does". To which I say, maybe just maybe, some people (the home hobbyist) might not care beyond "a compressor does this, a limiter does that and an EQ does the other stuff".
I can tell you that I (even as a computer programmer) cannot tell you how a hard drive is actually written to, but I still know how to use one effectively in my computer.
Maybe a weak analogy, but the same could be said about my audio interface or the electronics in my synth.
JMO, YMMV.