I'll say it again, just like Budda :
If you have a great amp, pedals up front are useless. Sorry, but a Raven amp ain't gonna cut it, so save yourself some trouble and just buy a better amp.
if you have a great amp, pedals still have their use: a different flavour. im pretty sure that some tones that are amazing happen to be a clean amp with a dirtbox of some sort out front - and that clean amp + distortion pedal would be the only way to get that tone.
so i wouldnt say they're usless, just not needed unless you want that type of distortion - which can sound quite good.