Hope you're girlfriend's nipples are OK.

Which ones specifically are you referring to?

just some guesses, feel free to add/modify...

1) They are trying to make 'idiot proof' products, because they know in the hands of an inexperienced user, a real compressor will indeed be total disaster.

2) People feel more comfortable with one knob then they do with many more that don't seem to have much effect.

3) More people will buy the product because more people don't know how to use the complex ones.

4) One knob is much less expensive to produce, and panel design also become simpler.

5) You can make the knob much much bigger, which also has it's advantage.

6) Leaves room for graphics, meters, and glowing things that draw people's attention and/or claims to increase sex life.

7) They know their product sucks, so they are doing it just to mock you.

Just to name a few (and don't get me wrong - I dig stuff from these manufacturers, I just feel like maybe they're being forced to sell out.)

SPL -
DynaMaxx

Drawmer -
MX30

And of course, many of the new "All-in-one" products - 8 pres + 8 "adaptive" compressors in one tidy box...

Need I say more?

:-?

mmmm ... yeah

the LA2 has few controls

I still like it

Yep, that's one of the ones that I was talking about up above. It's a classic in spite of it's lack of controls. Of course, when you think about it, the LA-2 is a limiter. I think threshold can be ignored on that one. As for the attack and release, there are times when I wish it had those controls, but in general, it does a damn fine job on its own. This is one of the very rare exceptions. (Definitely not the rule though.)

I did figure that the LA2 was in your list
:)
we luv the LA2
and we luv tubes

MMMMMM..... LA2 .....AAAAAAAggghhh

MMMMMMM....Tubes....AAAAGGgggghhhh..

Said in the most "Homer-esque" fashion.

(Homer the fat little cartoon character, not the fat little epic author.)

J.