I actually liked HRI and I kinda miss it... a great cadre of men sharing rack gear related tips and tricks.
Lower their musical standards?
Can you play Neon?
That's a pretty insulting thing to say. His music is well crafted and has many technical/challenging parts.
Just because it's not prog or metal doesn't mean it's a lower standard...
I personally like John's music very much and I know that he's a very talented guitar player, that wasn't my point. I actually prefer his music to the screaming/prog/djent/death/hardcore/emo metal genres. My point was that plenty of talented young guys, from what I can see on youtube and in my area, are more into technical/metal genres and they would consider John's music to be a bit below their standards. If you're used to listen to Kiko Loureiro, Alex Skolnick or Marty Friedman (these guys can play Neon for sure, and Bach's tocatta and fugue in d minor and Vivaldi's four seasons etc.), John Mayer might just not be flashy enough for that type of crowd. As Revdrucifer already pointed out, even though he's a metal guy at heart, it still does pay off to listen to John's music.
IMO John Mayer's playing can run circles around any screaming drop-tuned djentleman out there. His music may not be to your taste, but no amount of chugging and growling can match his musicianship.
Also IMO, anyone who considers music as their path to getting laid has their priorities screwed up.
I prefer John's music too, but it's hard to argue that Mayer is a super guitar virtuoso whose musicianship is unmatched. Some Djent guys out there can play crazy, crazy stuff. For example, Tosin Abasi's musicianship is just on another level. I still prefer Mayer, but would never deny that Abasi is more talented and skilled than Mayer.
It's not about considering music as a path to geting laid, it's about considering music's full benefits spectrum, which includes getting some tail.
You go to work to earn your salary first and foremost, that doesn't mean that you have to decline or look down upon extra benefits.