Reading seems to be a skill that really isn't essential for most guitarists, classical or big band, sessions, yeah you better know how to read well, but average joe guitar player probaly will never learn or have a need to. It is a skill though and like all skills it's use it or lose it, I learned to read, I don't use it alot, but!, it does come in handy occasionaly, especially if you have any dealings with keyboard players, I don't regret learning to read, I don't think learning to read could possibly hurt anyone's creativity, it might even boost it, I do think the easy availability of recorded music is the reason most guitar players will never learn, they just don't need to.