^Well to be fair, where has playing guitar got most of us here in life? :P
If I was in the market for an early VH tone I think I'd probably go for a Mako though. IMO the Makoplex just bleeds VH tone (their clips are ok but could be better recorded though).
I admire the guy for trying to recreate the 'perfect' Van Halen tone, but it's not cool in terms of originality, where has it got him in life? that's what he needs to ask himself. lol