2 years ago i used to think that satriani was a realy fast player, but today even if i cant play all his tunes i can play major part of them and im not a fast player at all.
About good musician: Well satriani is a good musician, and as we all know an even better guitar teacher but overaly i think vai is the best. His music could be even on mtv, or at least some of it because his melodies are "easy " to listen to and its not completley heavy metal oriented like malmsteen's music..