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I feel you're missing the point of my argument. I'm stating that the death of fret work is by choice.
Case 1 :
Matt Bellamy of Muse.
Matt Bellamy is an amazing guitarist. He knows all his scales, uses them in his songs, plays all the arpeggios and harmonics you want, yet he does not overdo it to the point of farce. He writes them into the song so they become integral. The fact that he can also sing over them is an advantage. Now Matthew Bellamy is the best guitarist of our current generation, a fact backed up by all uk guitar magazines. He doesn't seek the recognition of 11 minute solos or any of the ego that goes with iron maiden-esque stagnant metal. His choice not to do this is typical and in keeping with his heroes - Kurt Cobain and Tom Morello.
Case 2 :
Tom Morello (ex of Rage against the Machine) of Audioslave
Tom Morello doesn't go for your Vai/Halen solos either, yet he is an incredibly intricate and inventive guitarist. I'm not the biggest fan of rage but the guitar work is incredibly innovative. He has had a great influence on the way people approach the guitar.
Case 3 : Billy Corgan (ex of Smashing Pumpkins) of Zwan
Billy Corgan is my guitar hero. Listen to the smashing pumpkins songs soma with its solo or the song Geek USA (both from the siamese dream album). The solo from Geek USA is one of the best pieces of guitar work in the last 50 years. It is completely impossible to recreate (even according to Billy Corgan who would play a different arrangement of it live each time) and yet is firmly within the framework of the sound of the band. It is short, yet incredibly amazing.
The smashing pumpkins were born of a time when playing a guitar solo was out of fashion. They along with the alt.rock and grunge movement helped to move guitar music away from the same sterile ground it has found itself stuck in in the years previous.
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