I agree with most of that, and those 2 songs are probably my highlights on the solo albums too.  What's interesting is those songs are very different from each other and for the most part different than anything else he's done post GnR.

I've always said Slash's songwriting is subpar, and I consider myself a huge Slash fan (though some don't because I don't like his songwriting).  I love the way he plays and he's probably playing better now than he ever has.  At some point though, that's not enough.  There are a lot of guitar players that can play fast or play blues or play metal.  What always seperated Slash in my mind was how he could take something that was pretty good and make it into something great with solos and riffs that fit songs perfectly.  When starting out with average (at best), it's impossible for any guitarist to turn that into great.  Guitar just isn't that kind of instrument.  You can show off and do cool things, but at the end of the day you just walk away saying that's cool; you don't walk away amazed (well, most don't). 

Axl has the same problem from the opposite direction.  He can write pretty good songs, but can't make them great or special by himself.  He had a guy that could and he's still looking for the person that can (and will) going forward.  For whatever reason (fair or not) he doesn't seem convinced Ron is that guy.  Fortus has been around long enough that we know he's not the guy either.  I don't mind DJ's playing (especially on the old stuff), but I don't think he's the guy either.  As amazing as BH is as a talent, he wasn't that guy either...maybe Axl couldn't get past the crazy (ironic) to allow him to be that guy; maybe BH's strengths would never allow him to be the guy.  And well, there's Robin...enough said.

Nobody has been able to replace Slash.  Nobody has been able to replace Axl...Slash couldn't even do it with Duff and Matt (and Izzy part-time).  You're talking about two of the best at what they do.  I think sometimes we take for granted just how good it was because of everything that has happened since then.  I think sometimes we're too close to it.  I can't begin to tell you how much better I feel about all of it now that I've seen Slash and seen Axl live this year.  I really feel like it's all come full circle for me and I'm completely at peace with it all.  The only thing left for me is them make peace with it (reunion or no reunion).