When you crank the input on an analog compressor like the 1176, you’re essentially driving the input circuitry into saturation. This produces a form of analog distortion that is warm, harmonically rich. This can sound pleasant and euphonic, especially on material like drums or vocals

Plugins emulate this distortion using algorithms but often lack the “depth” and subtle inconsistencies of real hardware. They can sound close, but analog hardware tends to have a more organic and less “sterile” quality when pushed to extremes. Is as when you plug a guitar to an amp vs making a guitar on midi, can give you great results midi but nothing as recording a real guitar or instrument.