Most of these "best" arguments really boil down to personal taste. At my age, metal grates on my eardrums, and I'm more in tune with jazz, fusion, and blues players, but that doesn't take away from the skills of Van Halens of the world.
Here's two versions of the same song, by two top-notch players--one a legend, one virtually unknown in the mainstream of pop. Which one is better? That's where taste comes in. I like them both, personally.