re: The difference in guitarists

The question isn't whether they can or cannot play another style....I think the better proposition is can they play it to the ability of an elite player in that genre. Always will be the freaks of nature outliers that can just do anything....but guitarists, even elite, will always gravitate towards a lane that they can dominate and will always be more comfortable in that lane than another. Could Dimebag Darrell sit down and learn a Brent Mason solo and play it well? Likely so. Can Dimebag write a Brent Mason style solo? Likely not, or at least not to the elite level of Brent in his lane....different approaches. Same goes the opposite way on the example.

I am not in any way insinuating I am anywhere near elite, because I'm not , but I notice even in my own playing...I can finger and chicken pick pretty well, and shred when it's more legato based. But speed picking and string jumping with accuracy? I fall way short.