I guess there's the contribution of the guitarist's technique on the one hand, and on the other there's the total end product.
Clapton is a mystery to me which was kind of my point. Yes he can play well enough and certainly did in his heyday and I also agree about his Mayall and Cream years, and the Unplugged album ( I would also include the Layla album), but the end result for most of his musical career is pretty pedestrian.
I don't find the comparison with Dave Gilmour true either: I hold Dave in much higher regard - and he never even had the advantage of playing with the Bluesbreakers
Talking of Bluesbreakers - what about Peter Green? Wow! I love him
much more than Clapton.
Obviously all just my opinion and no more valid than anyone else's who holds the opposite view
I also love Hendrix. Enough said.
The two guitarists I've admired most are probably Richie Blackmore and Albert Lee though neither churned out memorable songs other than most of Machine Head/In Rock for Richie. Rainbow was a bit "meh" and what's all the stuff with his missus about?