[herr_oberst]

Realistically, Ronnie is a better player than Keef, but stylistically, who else would be able to front the Stones? (Mick Taylor in his prime was 'better' than Keef, and Brian Jones was head and shoulders above)

Peter Green, David Gilmour, Mike Rutherford, Mike Campbell, Robin Trower, Steve Winwood, Steven Stills, Steve Howe, Brian May, Carlos Santana; there's a long long list of better players.

But Keef is like Neil Young, you can pick out a lick in an instant, and you'll rarely be wrong, and his work meshes perfectly with the zeitgeist of the band.