Seriously consider this! I can't tell you much about the Bad Monkey but The Rat that sells now isn't the same as the one that sold back in the day. This guy doesn't scrimp on components! I haven't found a new Rat - TS-9 and such that I've liked! To me they all need to be upgraded. Just my opinion!
Be sure to go over Proteus's dirt pedal shootout. There's a lot of good pedal in there!
Hairier sounds cool ....
I think I need to do a Rat demo for people on here that like to dis it! I am lucky and have the Deucetone Rat currently. It's quite expensive, but think of it like 6+ rat pedals in one and then the price seems fair.
Get the rat!!!
I really like my Keeley BD-2 and Keeley SD-1 for transparency.
Whether or not you like Keeley (I use him because I live in the same city as he) theres plenty of other pedal modders that can put some ooomph in your pedals and make them sound more transparent at the same time (i.e more amp like).
Have fun. Pedals are fun.
RAT sound =aluminum bees in a metal vase on a cold winters day,i'd rather use the red dod box
cyclopssam said: aluminum bees in a metal vase on a cold winters day
That's just darned poetic right there! 
I've had a ProCo Rat since the mid-'80s and have always been happy with it. It was the first "Distortion" pedal (as opposed to "Fuzz" pedal) that I ever got and I've never found a need to replace it until I tried a Keeley-mod BD-2 recently. That experience rearranged my Christmas list right quick.
As roadjunkie points out, the Rat that's made today isn't the Rat of yesteryear. The newer ones that I've tried have been a pretty ho-hum affair. I've never tried the Bad Monkey, but if the choice is that or a current Rat...
cyclopssam said: RAT sound =aluminum bees in a metal vase on a cold winters day,i'd rather use the red dod box
Those bees would be dormant on cold winters day.
You might also check out the BBE Green Screamer. It's similar to the Bad Monkey. It's on sale at guitar center for $49.99. (It comes with a power supply, too.) You'll have to call to place an order. The website still charges $99.99 when you place it in the cart. I got mine for $53.49 total.
