Can you share how it will improve things for you?
Sure thing! For context, I use two X8Ps (one of which is the monitor master) and an X16.
One way it helps is that I have started occasionally doing sessions to 24 track 2" tape, but I do it without a traditional console (I do have a substantial analog summing setup though). The recording inputs on my patchbay are multed to both the tape machine and the Apollos. Generally, I either monitor the tape machine returns via Console or Luna (using my DB25 changeover switches) and build a rough tracking mix there, OR I patch all 24 returns on the bay into the analog summing setup and start building an analog mix over there. Now I can do either (or both) of those without necessarily having to repatch, since I can completely mirror my X16 on its outputs which are already normalled into my summing setup just by loading a Console session, plus I can use UAD plugins on the tape returns, AND I can still use the 4 cue busses to feed my headphone system (the Behringer system) via the master X8P. The Apollos really become a hub here in what feels like a nice way.
Alternatively, instead of mirroring to my analog mix rig, I can run the whole session off the X16 and drive up to 16 individual mono feeds to the headphone system without having to play games with hard panning cue mix sends, etc., or 14 + a stereo cue mix that can be fed from anywhere in Console + the DAW.
My two X8Ps have their analog line IO setup to be used for layback to tape and then printing back when I want the vibe of my machine (I use DB25 mults and switchers to route them there in 8 channel blocks without having to manually patch, which I can also do), but they also have those great Unison pres that I often use to augment my collection of hardware pres. Not enough APIs? Fill in the gaps with Unison. Having enough flex routes to cover (more or less) all the IO on the units means I don't have to worry about capacity if I want to print a Unison preamp channel live to the tape machine, regardless of what else I might be doing with flex routes at the time.
It's not that I absolutely couldn't do some of these things before by getting clever or patching a lot - I could - but it's a lot easier now. The biggest change is being able to flex route the full width of the X16. That's huge. Getting additional capacity on the X8Ps is less of a huge deal since mirroring cues to ADAT didn't count against the flex routes, but effectively not having to worry about capacity to flex route means I have to do less clever problem solving and planning when I'm doing something wacky.
