I'd have to say I'm in the middle, I'm capable of playing shredder type music, and enjoy doing so (for instance when you're in a guitar store and some guy decides he wants to show he's better than you) I find that it's fun to listen to for 20 minutes or so, but it can be sterile. I admire players like Paul Gilbert and Al Di Meola, their technique is as close to flawless as *I* think it's possible to get. But I love players like Jimmy Page and Hendrix, they didnt have the methodical cleanliness to their playing, Hendrix was in my opinion, the greatest guitarist, in terms of soul, technique, influence and songwriting. After all, I heard Hendrix AFTER I'd heard other good players such as Eddie Van Halen, and he STILL stood out to me as an incredible musician. When I'm writing music, be it death metal (for which I find anything less than perfect technique can get in the way) blues, funk or some gentle actoustic playing to accompany my wife on her violin, that depending on how I want the song to sound at the end, the feel I want, I can switch to a more soulful style (Albeit with more mistakes and glitches) or a more clean, accurate style. I feel it totally depends on the song. The Hendrix Solo from hey joe, is full of soul and emotion, wheras in my view 'for the love of god' by steve vai is more sterile, despite being in a more emotional and sombre vein. I think we should stick to what we're good at, and try to learn to use different approaches.

14 year olds playing malmsteen though? strange things in the air methinks.....