Breaking the rules and being original!!!
All these greats don't follow the book 100%. You have to think of certain sounds and put them on a guitar. Of course, it has to be some what with theory and has to be technical. But other than that . . . go for it.

ie. Jimi Hendrix, he is considered one of the greatest guitar players by many, yet look how he playes. A left handed player using a right handed guitar with LOADS of distortion. How more original can u get. ( yes i know, Hendrix is a very controvercial guitarist and many people will flame me complementing him.)

Its not all about being the shed king and playing at like 190bpm. It helps ALOT, but you can live without it.

;)