I guess I see it more as...you went over to Guga's and he made you one of his A5s, and you whip out a bottle of HP sauce. So, sure...it's "wrong" but it's also pretty delicious.

I'd also note, you hear partially with your eyes and 100% with your mind, so if glowing tubes and a VU meter and more boxes and cables, that hot, static smell...appeal, no you can't get that with software.