I'd take Gers ANY day over Hammett. His work with Bruce on the solo stuff was pretty good. Yeah, he's sloppy live and "dribbles" all over Maiden tunes. But I still don't hate the guy. I don't hate Kirk either, but he just is beyond forgetable to me.
I saw Maiden last summer in Denver and enjoyed EVERY single second of that show... three guitar players and all.
True..Hammet is horrible these days. That said, his rythm playing is still decent so I am not sure what happened to his solo abilities. I also did enjoy Gers rythm playing on Tattooed millionaire album, didn't bug me at all.. much preferred it when Adrian came back for Accident of Birth though!