Wow. So this is where Mark Walker got to! I always loved his videos on YouTube, his playing and tone were fantastic, as was his singing.
I have to say I totally get where he's coming from. For years I made excuses for RIC, the sort of "yeah they're a terrible company but if you want "that" sound you have to put up with it", but then I thought, why should we? As I've got older I've found much more pleasant ways to get that sound.