I'll start by saying i'm an intermediate player and I have experience with Boss MT-2 as well, but now i'm working more on getting the exact tone and effect that I desire. This is where DS-1 comes into play.
PROs:
I wanted something simple and versatile, to be able to play blues and classic rock and some occasional heavy metal (maybe even thrash metal).
The pedal does the job for me and I highly recommend it for this purpose.
It has passed the test of time and is backed by many famous players: Steve Vai, Kurt Cobain, Gary Moore.
You can also find a lot of settings and mods available.
CONs:
Not sure if my high-output humbuckers are to blame (and also a lot of other reviews mention it), but at high tone, there is a lot of buzz - than can be used in some genres, but not useful when you want a mild distortion or a slight overdrive. But there are better pedals for that.
Conclusion?
Buy it, try it, learn to use it. It's a good basis to start for every player.