There is a difference between a musician and an artist. I have meat a lot of musicians and not so many artist. What I mean by this is that there are plenty of people who are great/proficient (yes I know their are a lot of "sort of" gutiar players, but I do not include these people because they are not full developed) at playing their instrument, but the people who are really admire are the songwriters. To me the product is more valuable then what is actually behind the prodcut. Why I love most of the guitarist I love (Eric Clapton, Hendrix, Paige, Raitte, ect) is because before I played guitar their songs transfixed me. Only later would I learn the value of their skill.
When I go to a party/jam session what I enjoy is people who break out their own songs. Not those who try to fumble and remember some covers or rip out some boring etude. I've learned that rock/folk/current stuff is where my ear is at not archaic music written for a simpler generation and different times. I can admire classical and appreciate the depths and technique behind it. Songs are what music is, technique is not.
Mehg I contradict myself all the time. My point essentially is that I love songs that sound good to me, so a good guitarist is someone who writes good songs. You know if a=b and b=c then a must equal c.