What about the sound that no other 4 piece band has ever been able to create that has been together (with a couple hiatuses) as one unit for 30 years? The very nature of improvisation is that there will be some duds, but to say large swatches of their career they performed/produced garbage is not remotely true if you like the music. You don't, and that's okay. I like Pearl Jam, and they rock, but the thought of seeing them as many times as I've seen Phish would make we want to guage my eyes and Eddie Vedder's eyes out. And their chops just aren't on par with the talent of Phish. To each their own.