I love how laypeople always mistake "technical competitions" for "music".
Tell me in what way, shape, or form, does attempting to set a world speed record equate for technique compare to a guitar solo?
Apples = Record.
Oranges = Making actual music.
Absolutely useless you say? Nifty parlor trick you say? Kid can't possibly play music you say? Bullshit I say.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8EKCFFeSipU
Technical competitions are exactly that, competitions about who has better technique. Musical skill, taste, and application are
not part of the equation and unless you actually are a musician you just can't truly appreciate the amount of work that goes into building technique. In 20 years I've literally spent thousands of hours working on playing technique. There's nothing easy or parlor trick-ish about it and saying so takes a lot away from what those musicians accomplish.
I challenge any of you who are knocking this kind of stuff to pick up either a guitar or a set of drum sticks and give it a shot. Only then will you understand how difficult it is. Playing music really isn't as difficult as people think it is. Playing it with good technique is a completely different story.