I think you may be right. I've played guitar for many, many years and although I'm bang average I reckon I can tell a good player when I hear one.
That green Tele is lush!
That's what i mean, your ear is more educated than mine when it comes to music, you can probably spot certain intricacies that i can't. If i hear a song and i like it, then i like it! I have no idea how gifted the musicians are.