I forgot to add, Richard - one very good reason for copying another person's performance is that it's a very good way of learning.

Thank the lord that, in my younger days I slavishly tried to copy Doc Watson, Merle Travis, Ike Everly, Chet Atkins, Big Bill Broonzy, Brownie McGhee...

The copying was usually imperfect to a huge degree, but the learning curve was very worthwhile!