Hey riverrick I have been saving to buy a HD500 & suck up every bit of info I can find on them, but I am starting to get a bit worried that they are a mongrel thing to use after reading your posts, the last thing I want is to spend my time fiddling with with one rather than playing.
Have you owned a modeling stompbox before or is this your first crack at using one?
I have found Line6 computer based software very easy to use & download patches with, but have seen a few people say the HD500 takes a bit of getting used to.
Hope you get it sorted mate