i dont play the v-amp through an amplifier... that sort of defeats the purpose, and you will get that amplifier's personality bleeding through the pre-sets. I use it for direct recording. For live use, I dont need those subtleties, so I use my Blue Voodoo amp.
What I noticed was that the v-amp sounds more like real versions of the amps it models, whereas the pod is modeled more like the idealized, highly processed versions that people hear on big name recordings. I was looking for something that actually sounded like the old marshall I sold years ago and could also sound close to an old fender, and the v-amp sounds pretty close to my ears.
If you want a sound that is automatically revved up and sounds just like someone else, then get a pod. If you want a sound that's like a real amp and can be tailored to your own sound, the v-amp is a much better tool.
It all comes down to what your ears want to hear.