I believe your idea of a homogenised guitar world is a bit far fetched. Most bands are born out of a combination of other bands stuck together. eg Aerosmith = stones and yardbirds, Guns n Roses = aerosmith and stones. But they're totally different bands!! Copying a band and learning them perfectly is a good idea. Ive learned all the guns n roses tricks and styles, the way they struture songs for example. And hopefully if i get in a band the other players will be experts on other bands. And its not like i only like guns n roses, the stones, aerosmith, thin lizzy are also bands i learn.
Basically, im saying that i get annoyed when i hear people say "ah learning you favourite songs might be fun but you have to learn theory" and although its true.. so what!! I like having fun!! Through learning songs i learnt the pentatonic scale accidently, all the patterns were in songs, now ive given them a name!
I just get annoyed when people start assuming everyone plays guitar to be some big rock hero!! Im very much a bedroom guitarist and thats fine!
torby