I often listen to some speed-freak, wankless guitar masturbating, and often wonder to myself....this all sounds the same.

With the exception of Marcus Paus, does anyone think that there is a certain plateau that ones' fingers can reach?

For example, listen to Michael Angelo and listen to Yngwie. About the same speed. Do you think they just practiced to where they could play as fast as they wanted/deemed appropriate and then worked on other things (for Yngwie that exludes everything besides diminished arps :p), or is that their speed plateau???

Is it the fact that the ears can't comprehend a speed beyond those barriers?

You hear about players boasting 220bpm with 1/16 notes, but beyond that, no one really brags. How often do you see, "I can play 1/16ths at 280bpm."?

Is that why it's so difficult to distinguish who's faster?

Just a question that's been bothering me. Chime in!