All I can say is hat's off to Joe Satriani. Total Catch 22, darned if you do darned if you don't, situation. No doubt he could play everything note for note, but many would be critical, saying he didn't sound like EVH. He chose to be himself playing Van Halen songs, keeping true to the hook but not playing exactly what Eddie played.
I can't really think of anyone else who would have had the self-awareness to 'stay out of the way' and pay tribute to an icon that changed rock guitar.