I know how all that crap works, I have it in my studio for shitty singers. Dickenson had and most likely still does have one of the most powerful voices in that particular genre. He's from a generation of real singers who can pull it off live. Never been a fan of his voice, but man he delivers.
I got called out once when the group I was in used (I think) a late 90s DigiTech 1u rack unit. I remember the patch that I got caught on was the "Beach Boys." Somebody off stage was absolutely livid after the set and said that's not your voice! I said it was just pitch correction and he just flew into No! No! No! There was a woman's voice in there.
For the general gigs, it was great. A three piece band that could sing, hahaha. Multitrack was a curse and it was my ultimate weakness. The places I could have gone if I could sing.