Here's a simple question. I typically use log pots for volume controls on my pedals, but I've alway wondered about which pots to use for drive/distortion controls. I normally just use linear pots for these controls, but would log pots be better for some reason?

depends on the situation. Volume control (gain, too) usually works best with log, because your ears need an exponential increase in gain to *hear* a linear increase. That said, whatever works the way you like it is fine. If you have a pot that does nothing much or too much near the extremes, change types.

It depends how you're regulating your gain. If you are using a fixed gainstage with a volume pot between that and the stage where the clipping occurs, you might want to use log. If you're using a pot as a variable emitter resistor or opamp feedback resistor, then a lin pot is a better option.