First off, the debate. Ask any MUSICIAN and they'll tell you that theory is better to learn than songs. Anyone can play a song, you're just copying another guitarist. To know the theory behind it and why everything ties in like it does is another thing. I agree, everyone wants to hear songs, no one wants to hear a scale, but there are ways to do both. How about a twelve bar blues??? Everyone knows it, and you can practicing your improvisation, scales and licks and everyone gets into it. I think it's fun trading off licks with another guitarist and the "non-musicians" really get into it to.
Which brings me to the other debate. I agree, I hate non-musicians who judge musicians too, but I hate "aspiring rock stars" who judge musicians even more. If you're not clear on what I'm saying, refer back to the last paragraph. The "aspiring rock stars" are the ones who know a hundred different songs (and usually cool ones)but don't know an Ionian scale from their ass. I worked with a guy like that and he pissed me off to know end. He would hang out with the band I was with, pick up a guitar and play an STP song (not all the way through mind you) and next thing I know he's telling everyone he's in our band! He could play STP, Great White, Eagles, etc.. but have him deviate from anything and he's was f#$king clueless. He wanted the "glory" and that was it. He sang like an 80 year old whore getting rodgered, had the rhythm of an elephant and his ear was so bad, couldn't figure out the key to a song, much less change the key fluidly and he could never tell when he was out of tune...but he knew songs.
If you know the theory it opens up so many doors. Learn to read music too (which I think should be part of the theory, but nowadays it's not). The "posers" can play songs, but can they take a piano part and transpose it to the guitar?? I think not.
Music washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.