I think with Jimi, you have to look at the time (as was already stated in the thread!). For his time, he was the best. There are faster players today. There are flashier players too. No doubt. But back when Rock and Roll was moving into a new incarnation, Jimi blew people away. I still love to hear his music and find myself still getting chills hearing Little Wing. There have been techncally better versions, but Jimi's has ... well ... something.

You can go back through every generation and find players who simply smoked their compatriots. Django, Robert Johnson, Son House, Albert King, Chet Atkins, Charlie Christian, Larry Carlton...etc. Better than Jimi? I don't know. Different, yes.

Heck, Chuck Berry was considered by many to be one of the best guitarist of his generation. I don't know how I feel about that but you can't deny the mans talents.

Same thing with Jimi.