Guys, I really need some help...

[Bradock PI]

I did think of attenuators but high power linear attenuators are hard to make and hence good ones are expensive, I did think they may cost more than a set of speakers. Unless you have tried loads of speakers with the head unit then trying lower efficiency ones may give you a double advantage it may be you like their tone more. It will probably change tone as in general lower efficiency speakers are easier to make.

[Dmoney]

a speaker or two will cost less that a brand new attenuator (depending on the speaker and attenuator). if its bedroom levels you want from a 100watt head then you'll probably be using a hotplate at -16dB/-12dB. the weber mass attenuators have a tone circuit to balance the effect of attenuation on tone and the hotplates have a high and low boost switches. either way, its not going to sound like your amp only quieter because the speakers aren't going to be pushing as much air as they would if you were playing at a louder volume in addition to the effect of attenuation.

I have an 8ohm hotplate i never use that i'd sell. i never a hotplate live as i just crank my amp through a 4x12.

[Copperhead]

I love my Hotplate, I use it all the time. On loud and outdoor venues, I'm using a 4x12 with Eminence V-12 Legends, Hotplate on -4, amp masters 8-ish.
On lower stage volume situations, I use a 2x12 with Eminence Swamp Thangs, Hotplate at -8, masters around 5.
Tone is very very close, just greatly reduced volume. I don't have a problem with the Hotplate screwing with the tone until you hit -12 and above settings. Bright and Deep controls work very well to compensate for the room if you may need a little more bass outdoors, or a little more cut in a muddy room for example.
You could also use the Hotplate on LOAD, then slave out the Line Out to a small SS amp. This works great for bedroom levels or even headphones. Line Out can also be used for W/D rigs because of the excellent volume control it employs.
Overall the Hotplate is one of the best investments I've made into my tone. Every venue is different, so is studio work. I can use the same head that I love for whatever I need to do, the Hotplate gives me the versatility.