I actually prefer right now to run the AR to the A4 because I can more carefully adjust the input level of the AR on the A4. I do not like that the AR does not have a built in gain/input function on an Amp/FX page somewhere. I also prefer the reverb sound on the A4 and don’t mind adding it’s qualities to the AR drum mix.
I found it useful to route the A4 main out through the AR for compression, while at the same time running individual voices from the ar through the a4, like clap for instance. This way i can make use of the A4s effects on clap or pad/chord sounds from the AR.
I uploaded major and minor chords with a set of permutations of the chord notes to my AR (for minor e.g. c, e flat, g; e flat, g, c; etc… within a sample, selectible by start and end points) and that for pulse waves, sawtooth and so on. Works even on 4 note chords, effectively yielding results otherwise only possible with higher polyphony.