Gee, I dunno... I heard U2 for years because my youngest son really loved them. I never bought a CD of theirs, myself, although at times I was tempted. I too like their pre-circus days better. But for rock guitar, I don't know many who can measure up to The Edge. Creativity is creativity. You can be enormously creative using whatever you have as a pallate to work with. To give another example besides Jimm Hendrix, what about Spike Jones? Only kidding slightly. I don't think it's a question of whether electronic gimmicks can replace creativity. All you have to do is listen to lousy rock guitarists to know that.

My favorite rock guitarist is either Keith Richards or Mark Knopfler. I listen to Knopfler more, but the Stones would have been a far lesser group without Richards.

Jerry