I chickened out on the Helix front and went and ordered an Amplitube stomp I/O - requires much less fiddling with effects as most of them are pre installed and branded effects pedals so easy to look up preferred settings. Also not too expensive at under £200 on ebay
Readers Wives content - Still needs a pickguard but now has a pair SD Phatcats and a Gibson Iommi in the bridge. It's a beast.