If I took a BMW to work and a bicycle the next, would anyone even know the difference if I didn't tell them? I understand the professional use/reliability aspect of it, but if the pre is so good in an SD 7XX, why do most run a V2, V3, or other pre with it?
I'm just skeptical. Would like to hear comps of the same mics, same pre, different solid state deck and see if there is a difference and if that difference is worth $2,000+ to the taping hobbyist.
I think Page summarized this best... the answer to your question would basically be, running digi-in, there is no difference. There is no difference between my USBpre2>digi-in>R-44 than a 722, sound-wise. But if I had unlimited money, I'd run the 722 for the higher reliability and the other factors Page mentioned. But I'm a hobbyist, my R-44 has never died on me (nothing has ever died on me other than for user error except the DR-680 and an old 660 running off batteries), and money is finite. I can also switch out different pres to use with the -44 if I want different sound. Of course, if I use an analog pre, the A>D on the -44 is undoubtedly worse than on the SD boxes.
The guys running SD boxes have an elite-level product that is easy to use and rugged and US-made and great at what it does; I don't begrudge anyone buying one. Would I spend that $$$ on an SD box before I had, say, top-end mics? no.