Technique is not just about high-speed chops. Think of many of the classic riffs and most aren't played at warp 9. there's more feel in Dave Gilmour's solos like on 'Another brick in the wall', 'Shine on you crazy diamond' and 'Money' than in several albums' worth of crypto-classical shredding. That said, most of Satch's greatest riffs have been pretty awesome in terms of speed and feeling. I guess that's why he's a legend and most imitators aren't. Al di Meola once said that when he was young he wanted to be the fastest player on the planet but soon reaslied speed isnt the be all and end all.