hey Zakk, I'm a piano player / guitarist who uses the virus and a few other synths in his rock band. Our bent is more towards stuff like OK Computer and Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness. Ive got a link to a track which demonstrates a few ways that I use the Virus in my band (I use the Virus mostly to fill in the areas where it would be hard for me to fill it in with electric guitar - due to awkward cluster voicings like A minor with sus 2 and 4. The link is
www.myspace.com/blakelighttragic
I would DEFINATELY recommend getting the TI in your band. I play a KC, and the thing has such a great ballsy tone in general. It has a very great punchy sound that, if you program it to, can really cut through any mix. As far as string sounds are concerned, I dont think there isnt a user in the Virus forum, any style, who doesnt at least have a few patches using Square waves with fast Pulse Wave Modulation on an LFO... this gives you a great great string sound!