RAndy all the way !! God only know what blistering solo's he would have played had he been alive today !!! Rest in peace randy !!
Rhoads I vote Rhoads all the way, he may have not been as much of a technical player as vai, but Rhoads had alot more feeling in his sound, where vai to me is just clean cut in playing style to me. Where Randy sounded like a train coming off the tracks. Both are really good though and if Randy lived to play another couple decades like vai has, I don't think there would be a question of who is better.
blah If I was going to have a vs. for steve vai, I would have a vs. with him and Joe Satriani. Similar styles and similar skills. Though I would pick Steve all the way on that one.