My understanding is that when you switch amp models, the channel setting is such that you shouldn't get a huge jump in volume between clean and drive amps and, of course, when a particular amp is just got that massive distortion when the drive is up. This is to help reduce shattered eardrum syndrome, a common ailment suffered by guitar players using guitar equipment that has a headphone jack. LOL. Once you move the knob, though, the channel volume will coorespond to the actual setting. By the way, my posting on the software version is because I have an older POD (ver. 1.1) and I contacted Line 6 to find what was the latest. Anyone living in the continental US with a version older than 1.4 can get the EEPROM chip from Line 6 sent to them FREE. So I bought this used but I will essentially have the newest POD available. Pretty cool.
Peace, Jim