I gotta disagree with you to a point. So what if they're "soooo by-the-numbers"? There are few bands that aren't "by-the-numbers" anymore. Isn't the fact that these guys can even play like that worth anything anymore? Shit will always be "regurgitated" from this point on in one form or another (it has been for years now), so why not enjoy what's out there if you like what you hear, even at the risk of one band being similar to the next? If a guitarist sounds like Malmsteen, does that necessarily mean that the singer or drummer will sound like Malmsteen's singer and drummer? No. If so, you have a tribute band...

I hope I didn't miss your point, but I had to ask...