No apology necessary.
I think if you compare the playing of Gatton to Hendrix, you can see there's no comparison. Hendrix is a sloppy player. Maybe the drugs. But it's a lot easier to play fast and sloppy than it is to play fast and clean. Gatton is crisp, clean. He's just miles above Hendrix.
Not true if you are looking for playing w/ feeling. Others on this thread have already mentioned Machine Gun. I would assert that Hendrix has done some pieces that (at times) can approach a Gatton or a Malmsteen or whomever. In particular, I would refer you to Beginnings from Woodstock or Mannish Boy from Blues.
A lot of times, he was stoned out of his gourd and I concede that point to you.