outboard gear? should i even look into it?

thanks for all the responses guys! it really gave me some insight to hardware in general. i was looking into compressors but now im thinking ill save my money to , other necessities, more sound reinforcement in my room, a better computer, cables, or possibly upgrade my interface. the presonus firepod is awesome though when i open another application while logic is open i.e. itunes i get pops and clicks whenever audio is playing. this doesnt go to the final bounce in my daw, but it gets really annoying after a while. i forgot to add I AM using a mixer for monitoring - MPC and other sources i.e. keyboards, synths, ipod. the mixer def is just a short cut so, i dont have mucho things plugged into my interface. its a MTX soundcraftsmen 4ch. anyway! thanks guys and keep the comments coming. im checking everyday and your input is more than helpful.

thanks again

Budget?

If you're looking into outboard gear, make sure you purchase units that will keep a good chunk of their resale value....Chandler, UA, API etc...