Whistle Stop: It's no wonder you don't get it, if the examples you are giving are what you judge his picking by..."It's Allright, Ma"?? "Buckets of Rain"??? Those could've been played on a calliope- they're not guitar songs. There are other examples, but just go get yourself the "Good As I Been To You" album. Then try playing anything on it as well as he does (flatpicking). He is NOT a great picker, but he is highly underrated in that arena.