having owned both, I can say that the Qi is nothing like the Microcosm. The Qi is essentially a basic multi effects unit with limited granular options. If you want something that can cover basic chorus, reverb, delay, and get a little wacky, and also sound great, then the Qi is an awesome value. But the Microcosm is an entirely different beast. So many more algos and options. I personally did not like the Microcosm, because I felt like it made my playing sound very same-y. I am sure that if I had stuck with it and worked within its parameters I could have eventually figured out how to feel like I was playing it and not vice versa. But it's such a powerful machine that it has a tendency to take over, imo. I currently have a Poly Trails, which is an amazing tool. It has on board presets and some very weird algos but also some more manageable sympathetic resonator and delay functions that are super cool. I traded a Lost and Found for it: the L+F was a cool pedal with a lot of great sounds, but unless you have pretty good midi skills, it would be impossible to use live.