Modulation Guitar

1) The purist's thinking that you must go with all-tube amplfication and overdrive the amp for distortion? The problem I have here is that I play mainly in home/studio ... it's very difficult to turn up the volume to maximum to achieve that optimal overdriven tone. And there aren't too many choices in low wattage tube amps.

2) A tube amplifier with effects? Tube amps are pretty expensive and fragile and it seems that a lot of people use a ton of rack or floor effects with them like power conditioners, pre-amps, modulation, echo, etc. Why buy tube if you're using effects?

3) How about a solid state amp with effects? Seems like the most practical way to go and save a few bucks.

Good insight is appreciated.