Well, I'm going waaaaaay off topic but I just can't keep from adding my $.02, now that I have more than 5 minutes to reply
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In all honesty, I think the bottom line is
what does it sound like. If it sounds good, I don't care if it was a sample, a live instrument, or an effect tweak. It's always a taste issue, but if it sounds cool I could care less about how the sound was made. I might wanna know for my own information, of course, but I'm not gonna be a snob or purist. Sound is the end result, not the tools.
Loop-based software, digital multi-tracks, and oodles of effect plug-ins have moved powerful composition, recording, and mastering tools within the reach of the masses. As a result, there is a lot of crappy loop-based, over effected, digital stuff showing up. But in the hands of a true artist, good music can be made with these tools.
It wasn't the effect on the vocals that bugged me, it was the effect on me. I'm media ignorant and I've never heard the Cher song, but I did hear the Kid Rock song a couple of times. The problem for me is that the gimmick pulled my attention away from the song and forced me to focus on the gimmick itself. I haven't been fond of gimmicks since after my first week with a digital delay. I try to know "what I'm going for" when I reach for a knob these days. I'm not afraid to do weird shit if it helps me get closer to what I hear in my head. But I hope I'm doing it to enhance the material.
Standard net disclaimer: this is not an accusation of any sort. I'm just spouting my manifesto.