+1 My goal is to always buy an amp that sounds good to me out of the box. Then I can use the EQ for what it IMO is meant for... to slightly tweak the inherent tone of the amp to remain relatively constant in a variety of rooms. I do find more advanced EQ useful for dealing with cabs voiced in a way that I don't like... but I tend to not buy those
For 90% of my gigs, I run my Markbass heads totally , completely neutral (which for these particular heads also translates to relatively flat in an absolute sense, as shown by quite a few 'on the scope' tests that have been posted). For the 10% of gigs that are either in very dry, small rooms or very large boomy rooms, a slight engagement of the contour filter (which widens the low end and top end and softens the mids) for the former situation, and a slight cut to the nicely voiced shelving bass control for the latter situation works perfect.
IMO, if someone is needing multiple bands of parametric EQ or huge graphics to 'get their tone', then they have purchased the wrong gear (which happens). Of course, with DB feedback and wolftones, things can get a little more complicated, and at least one notch EQ band, or a full parametric EQ band that can be set to notch is very useful.