Getting the tone you want from a digitally modelled amp or effect is easier than you think because you already know the process! When trying out a real pedal or amp for the first time, not every setting will sound good. You probably start with the knobs at zero or the middle and make small adjustments to start moving in the tonal direction you want. Within a few minutes, you’ll know whether this might be what you’re looking for, or it’s time to move on to something else.
You wouldn’t plug into a real amp, play for 5 seconds using whatever the knobs happen to be set at, and judge it as crap then move to another amp. This strategy will likely result in you judging every amp ‘sounds like crap’. Yet, this is what we have a tendency to do when auditioning digital because it’s so each to click a button and instantly have a new amp loaded.
Approach virtual gear with the same method and patience when you try real gear and you’ll get much better results.