i dont think that Clapton was overrated. i think that with the drugs and alcohol, and his inability to stay in one band for more than one or two albums hurt his potential. He also never really found his own sound. He went from ripping off Hendrix in Cream to ripping off Bob Marley in 461.  He isn't overrated though..He was the original modern guitar virtuoso. The only reason Jimi Hendrix went to London (where he first found an audience) was that he was promised he would be able to meet Clapton. Is he the best guitarist of all time? no way. But he was one of the most important, and that is why he is so highly regarded. Any doubts i ever have about his abilities are washed away when i listen to the live version of Crossroads when he was with Cream.