Is Randy Rhoads overpraised?
 

What would you say?

I think he is overpraised. He is just one of many examples where a musician dies young and becomes a very worshipped legend.
RR was undeniably very talented, but he doesn't deserve all that hype and huge, blind praise. He's just not one of the greatest guitarists ever.
He was not an innovator. I would say Schenker and Uli Jon Roth are bigger innovators than him(and they're nowhere near as famous and recognized as RR), let alone Blackmore and EVH.

No. He was incredibly innovative and was integral to the evolution of metal guitar (even though I tend to hate his copycats). Blackmore has neoclassical elements but he tends to be pretty one-noted. Rhoads was much more dynamic with his blend of metal and neoclassical modes. EVH was plenty influential but not quite in the same vein--he's all smoke and mirrors anyways.

If more melodic metal sounded like this at double speed rather than Iron Maiden at double speed I'd probably still listen to it more than once in a blue moon.

I don’t think RR appreciation is a case of everyone loves the dead. He earned a spot in rock’n’roll history.

coming out swinging

F-no!

I dont think so. and I believe his best was yet to come!

He was going to take time off after that tour to study classical more in depth.

lots of stuff>Hendrix>Beck.Clapton.Page>EVH>Rhoads>Satrian i.Vai.Malmsteen>lots of stuff

Yes. he was looking forward to it, and I would have loved to hear what was
next for him. he was a special player!