And take a guy like Vai. I think we could all agee to rank him as one of the best guitarists alive. But I wonder where he would have ended up had it not been for Whitesnake and DLR? And he not "made it" in terms of fame and public recognition I wonder if Satriani's star would have risen? And to call DLR or anybody in Whitesnake a "musician" could at least be called a subject for debate rather than consensus. So, here, you have pop slop actually helping the 'real' musician to get some recognition.

And then who is to decide what is and is not valid music and skill? Neil Young can't shred but there is something to his style that is wonderful and human than a buch of arps and scales up and down the fretboard. Who is going to be the final judge to decide what is and is not good music, who is a musician?