I'm with the OP in general, though I could probably find better examples of 'look what I can do' guitar music. Lots of it out there. You can play a guitar in the service of music, or you can play as physical / mechanical / technical / mathematical exercise. Very few do both (at the same time). Lots of shredders approach guitar more like athletics than art.
Bottom line: do you like amazing guitar playing or do you like MUSIC? It's OK to like both, but it's good to realize the difference. Sometimes a single piece of music IS both, but not always, and not to every listener. I know taste is subjective, but to my tastes, most of the worlds greatest songs are simple to play. The genius is how they were written and arranged. The way instruments and vocals fit together perfectly and make an emotional impact.
When I'm writing, I always try to strip down my own concept of music to bare essence. What is music? Sound, with purpose. The purpose is (or should be) to affect people when they hear it, stir emotions, create feelings, resonate with moods. Difficult, complex and technical music can do this, but to me (and a lot of people) it's often not the best way.
Music can be made with anything, but since things like melody, rhythm and tone help, people tend to use purpose-built musical instruments, of which guitar is a very popular choice. Any instrument requires some amount of physical skill to operate, which you develop over time. Some people develop skills much faster and better than others. The big question is, how much skill do you actually need to create the music you want to create?
I'll listen to the great shred players. I'll hear something that is impressive as hell and go "WOW!" I play guitar and know how damn difficult it is. Then my wife hears it and says "That's just irritating, why all so many notes? It's annoying!"