Rock musicians with musical education.

... not that young hot-shots can't mature into fine artists... Ritchie Kotzen's a terrific example. Check out his Live in Japan live video on youtube. The chops are now in the service of something much greater. 

Not clear to me whether OP is suggesting a university degree is a "better" approach to musical education or whether more "complex" (Prog, Fusion) forms of Rock are "superior" to simpler forms. "Musical education" need not be in a classroom environment. 

I've seen interviews with Jazz masters who've lamented that the university path is inferior to the old "apprenticeship" approach, where younger players learned by playing night after night on stage with more seasoned players. 

Clapton's musical education consisted largely of spending untold hours with a guitar and record player, going over and over solos by Chicago and Texas blues masters, laboriously learning their licks, note by note. In his case, given his interests, this was an excellent approach.  

The level of technique in guitar-playing has come a long way. For my tastes, this has not necessarily been a plus. I'd rather listen to someone who actually has something to say play three notes than sit through blizzards of notes by someone who possesses great technical facility but has not learned how to translate their life experience into something universal.

Chops and sophisticated theoretical knowledge are great, in the hands of an artist!

To my ears, the rise of guitar schools has resulted in a surfeit of hot-shot fretmeisters who haven't a clue about art. Needless to say, each to his/her own.  

@frogman: 

"As I see it, it is really pointless to insinuate that great chops are anything but a plus for a musician". 

 I'd never agree with the notion that technical facility/theory are "detrimental" but if you are suggesting that acquiring these faculties somehow guarantees one will have something worthwhile to communicate or know how to communicate it tastefully, then we profoundly disagree. 

@simonmoon:

"I love complexity and high levels of musicianship in the various genres of music I listen to. And, the resulting emotional and intellectual experience they bring about"

This illustrates the degree to which personal taste enters into discussion of this topic. While complexity brings YOU a particular emotional and intellectual experience, surely you realize complexity may not have the same impact upon others, who may indeed prioritize very different "results". 

I am no dummy but personally, I do not want to be "in my head" when listening to music. I want to be emotionally and physically engaged. Different strokes for different folks...