[billjings]

Guitar tone is built on breakup, and solid state did not break up like tubes. Not for a long time, at least - arguably FET transistors do a good job, but you still don't get the sag that a tube rectified AB amp yields when cranked.

The only reason that solid state is now catching up to tube nowadays is that:

* Front of house tech and home recording has made riding cranked amp tone live in a live environment a hassle, both technically and in terms of achieving the sounds that are being recorded

* Solid state can credibly emulate tube tone now (this has happened on things like tube compressors, too)

Having said all that, any time spent in the guitar pedal market (particularly around dirt boxes) will convince anyone that guitarists are indeed, as you say, total suckers for snake oil and marketing. :)