I feel you as I was always buying/not buying stuff considering this.
A sampler like the ot is a must or that and you can even carry a DN with it in a handluggage.
I’ve been carryin an OT, a looper, soundcard, electric guitar, amp, cables, mics in the cabin but it’s always a sweaty moment when you have to deal for it.
In Europe and western countries in general it is a nightmare and with low cost it would cost twice the ticket just to carry a guitar.
I’ve met people carrying much more though, no idea how. I also saw professional flightcases being destroyed, you don’t wanna see how they care about luggages.