Some years back, at sessions up in the US northwest, I noted a fairly rapid migration from the originally popular (within the group) version of a popular piece to a "modified" version that supplanted the first for the simple reason that a couple of the regulars could "play it faster."

The new version was not musically pleasant, it left out a whole lot of notes (and was even uglier if slowed down to a "melodic pace") and it gave no place for other players to insert their own favored "decorations."

We stopped wasting our time with that group shortly after.

(for reference, the main piece that suffered thusly was "Saint Annes Reel")

In one of his interviews Bill Monroe, not known for being a slouch at fast-paced play although in my opinion he left our (or missed?) quite a few of the best notes, was quoted as saying "Most people try to play it (bluegrass) too fast."

The best known (in my area) version of "Whiskey Before Breakfast" is the version played by Mike Cross, with the entire "melody" (such as remains) revamped for more speed and bearing almost no resemblance to traditional versions. Of course few people in his audiences have ever heard, much less played, a traditional version....

Just observations. I probably don't need to offer an opinion on the subject.

John