First off, it does NOT have to be done.... and secondly... it's easier to do something after someone else has paved the road for you (Hendrix to Stevie). BUT the better guitarist was obviously Stevie... The more legendary... obviously Jimi. The more widely known... Jimi... Jimi is the Godfather and Stevie was just following the path that Jimi laid out for him. I like both of them.