That’s a fair point actually, but I still feel the overriding factor is authenticity. Nowadays most so called ‘artists’ appear to be pandering to one thing or another.

True although there are pros and cons to that - the rise in importance of rhythm guitar playing I feel is ultimately a good thing. Back in the day people could shred but finding musicians with top rhythm chops was rare. Nowadays that trend seems to be reversing and resulting in more rhythmically complex styles of music becoming more popular albeit in a niche kinda way.

@@AforAleph ya sure ... Although sheedding didnt really last that long .. out of all the guitar heroes real shredders are less and the mightier ones are actually always the more rhythmically melodic players .. page hendrix iomi beck gilmour not shredders like petrucci or malmsteen but sit higher .. the guitarists havent able to come out as individuals on the front and have taken their instrument on the back end ... Focusing more on the overall presentation rather than the guitar .. players from rhe guitar era kept the instrument in the front.. somehow .. maybe it was the way they presented their music or the way it spoke to the audience