I was SRV play in Dallas in 89, a few months before his death.
He is as good as people think he is. Whether he 'synced' that performance or not I don't know. He didn't sync squat in Dallas.
I have also seen Pete Townsend play. He had to quit playing some of the riffs he was famous for due to arthritis in his wrist and loss of hearing. Whether SRV had the same problem could be considered.
As for studio musicians, Eric Clapton uses studio musicians as well as Carlos Santana. I don't see anyone calling them fakes:rolleyes: