i cannot agree more on getting a valbee! though i doubt 180 is the price leh.
i used a cubex before my valbee, and the sound from both amps are way different. though the speaker size from the valbee is smaller than the cubex, we're still looking at bedroom amps at bedroom volumes arent we?
lets face this, eventually, you will get your pedalboard complete with your desired effects (due to gas, diversification, etc). so built in effects are only temporal imho. but a valbee will last you and satisfy your needs over time as a bedroom amp.
the option of letting you swap tubes gives you option of your desired tone (darker, brighter, sparkliER, etc) but to me, the stock china tubes are good enough and i wont be changing them til they go boom or something.
just A/B both of them side by side and you'll be able to make a decision..