You don't have to do more or better than other members to be relevant to RNR history.

They were of huge impact in the hair metal era.
They're almost three decades in (good) business.
They're among the best live bands, if nothing else than at least longevity-wise.

And if all this won't count - and it won't I guess:

They were paragons of the Unplugged series that led to some of the best and most memorable gigs in RNR history.

Justifying their denial with what they might have played is again just jaded over-analysis.