Hybrid amps aren't all bad Word Bearer. My Laney TF300 is a pretty decent sounding thing, especially condsidering how little it cost - £290 about 8 years ago. It's no Mesa or Cornford, but then it doesn't claim to be.
I'm with you on not touching a Mode Four with a barge pole though, purely on the basis that there is so much stuff out there which sounds better for the same money. Marshall TSL60, Engl Screamer and the Laney GH100L, to name but a few. All of which have the advantage that you can use pretty much whatever cab you want with them, rather than having to use the ones which are high rated enough to take the amp's power.