I got along without a pre for quite a long time, and still do for the most part; eq’s with a level control or even the soundcard can do that....
I was gifted with a rather nice pre above my normal means awhile back...it’s taken some ’doit’ to lace it into the tangled web I weave, but it’s an option....*G*
...still like to opt for the shortest possible wires ’n ic’s involved, tho’...