This to me is 100% true and what any tone chasers that may not be great players, should think about. It's way too easy with the Axe to get so wrapped up, your chops suffer due to tweaking more than actually playing. We definitely have to keep a happy medium because you can tweak yourself into oblivion, and then notice your playing is way off. Hopefully we can fix the playing aspect...but here's the kicker...
This seems to suggest though that everyone who owns an axe, and or play guitar for that matter, should have great chops. Nothing wrong with that, but I think plenty of people (like myself) can quite happily suck at guitar and still find it a fun hobby, and the Axe for that matter, a great purchase.
Its like golf; should one have a goal of shooting under par, hitting a few hundred balls on the range each day before then going to spend an hour working on their short game ? Or can one simply think of golf as a fun activity which lets them go out, enjoy the sunshine and drink some beers with their friends ?
Now your points are good ones, in the case of those who want to be the best guitarist they can be. Mastering their instrument really takes one far further than shaping the perfect tone, BUT, it shouldn't invalidate the desires of those who don't care to be a monster player.
If I had the choice between playing with my Axe, my synths, and my other toys, or sitting practicing scales and modes, I'd rather noodle with the Axe. Guitar is just a hobby for me now, and frankly, I enjoy the gear as much as I do playing the instrument.
Maybe I'm not even a "guitarist", maybe my hobby is simply playing with electronics, talking about electronics, and buying more new electronics. I paid the same hard earned money for my Axe as anyone did though, so really isn't up to anyone else to tell me if I'm using it "right".
If I want to sit around, compare 3 FW versions for 2 hours and then spend 2 more hours shaping a tone, just to poorly play 3 chords through it, its my prerogative, and if that is my idea of "fun", then who is to say I'm not getting my money's worth ?