For Pete's sake, I though this was going to be some heavy debate about gun control, Hollywood movies, Clinton's current commercial for Viagra (Bob Dole's empty) or at least whether to use picks or not. Well rest assured I don't disagree with Michael, or Segovia, or Paco de Lucia, or anyone else who's never muted a note. When Doc Watson plays "Omie Wise" he don't mute. When he plays "Deep River Blues" he does. When I play Paxton, I don't. When I play Merle Travis I do. When I play fast I use a .88mm pick, when I play slow I use a .73mm pick. When I want to use my right hand ring finger, I don't use any picks at all.
On a more serious note, muting is a technique to lessen sustain on the bass notes. I often found in the bad ol days when I played solo for people dancing in saloons that muting the bass in an uptempo number made it swing more and allowed them to hear the beat better. Hey Mike, I bet you use the foot pedals on you pianna occasionally.
P.S. Mike's a good picker folks!

Rick