I'm ten years older than Beast, and I use a flat pick too! I just can't get different fingers (and thumb) to do different but co-ordinated things, despite having lessons ... it's not that I don't know what to do, I just can't do it. I can do pattern-picking, but not the pukka melody+bass stuff, even though I can hear both in my head. I can play tunes -- or bass -- up and down the neck, no problem; I only picked up the knack of that in the last few months, despite playing bog-standard box since about 1967.

I expect it's largeley right about rock guitar, though.

Steve