wpmartin1979 wrote: ↑Thu Mar 25, 2021 7:03 am
I’m starting to question whether or not it is even possible to know what kind of delay you would prefer, much less what pedal or pedal maker without going down the rabbit hole
You can simplify your decision tremendously by asking first what delay
types you need before asking what
tone(s) you want.
If you want a delay that can give you types like the fundamental note and + dotted quarter notes, 8th notes, 16th notes, golden ratio, etc. (essential for, e.g., U2, Pink Floyd, Police, ambient, P&W), you need either a dual delay or two individual single delays (the latter being very much harder to dial in unless each shows bpm).
If, on the other hand, you only need a single delay for your fundamental note, any single or double delay will work for you as long as the delay time range meets your needs (e.g., up to 800 ms, though you may actually need less).
After answering this opening question, next consider what tones you prefer. E.g., '80s - modern versus '50's/'60s.
The good news is we have so many options available to day that there's a delay for everyone's needs. That's also the bad news, though, if you suffer from "paralysis by analysis."
Other considerations are recording versus live performance. Frankly, live at high volumes, though you may care some (and it may not be much, depending on your ears and personality), very few if any of your audience is going to care about the differences between delay tones (think about it: have you ever, at a club or bar, thought to yourself, "Wow, I notice and love [or hate] the tone of the guitarist's delay repeats?"). If you're recording, on the other hand, it may be critical.
Just my point of view. As always, YMMV.