I don’t use the POD presets. I don’t even use modified ones.
I built my favoured tone patch from the bottom upwards; and if I’m honest, it’s the only one I need.
Like you Tim, simplicity is my watchword.
I was discussing the merits of 2 or 4 knob guitars on the Gibson forum, and a fellow opined that 2 knobs was ‘worthless’. He later revised that to ‘worthless to himself’, explaining that he could only get the sound he wanted with both pickups set at different volumes. Fair enough.
I’ve found the Gibson 4 knob circuit doesn’t work very well IMO. It certainly can’t blend 2 pups smoothly. Also I find it too difficult to avoid knocking switches & knobs when playing out.
My tone patch EQ is optimally matched to the neck pickup with the guitar volume & tone control full on.
So I keep the volume & tone full on at all times and only use the neck pickup.
This means that:
1/ I don’t need a bridge pickup.
2/ I don’t need any knobs at all.
3/ I don’t even need a pickup selector switch.
So my ideal custom guitar would look pretty basic. The POD takes care of the EQ, and its expression pedal gives me far easier volume control.