Maximum effect requires a live performance. I'm not a huge fan of the blues (read: not really a fan at all) but, I am a fan of gifted people pouring their guts into something, and SRV pukes every once of his soul onto the audience when he plays.
The only criticism I have of him, other than getting on that helicopter, is when he plays behind his back. Dude, you do not need to show off, there's not a person in the world who can play like you.
I used to love Steve Vai, Joe and a lot of the shredders from the 80s and 90s. I've just drifted away from that style. Now I'm this kind of guy.