i think that's the problem -- you haven't said why you hold some opinions (U2 is better than the Beatles, INXS is better than the Stones, the Stones only have 6 good songs) other than claim that they are your opinions, and therefore unassailable due to the fact that they are opinions.
it's very circular.
I won't disagree with you.
But this is difficult. WHY do I prefer U2 to the Beatles? Well, first of all, let me re-state that I love the Beatles. Comparison between these two bands is comparison at the highest levels of songwriting.
I can tell you that I've never been able to get into early Beatles work. I just don't feel it. It doesn't hold my interest. I understand it's historical importance and fully understand that other music which I do love would never have happened if not for "Love Me Do" and "I Want To Hold Your Hand." But I don't really find it interesting to my ear in 2014 (or 1984 for that matter.)
That said, their later work is mind-blowingly amazing. I'm also a big fan of John's solo work. But none of that moves me the way that The Joshua Tree does. When I listen to the best U2, it absorbs me. Many people have likened a U2 show to a religious experience, and it is difficult to find a better way to describe it. I think of the moments in the Rattle & Hum movie between Where the Streets Have No Name, MLK, and With or Without You. Nothing musical has ever moved me like that has.
There can be no debate as to historical context or influence. CLEARLY the Beatles have had worlds more influence. In fact, many of the bands most influenced by U2 tend to be kind of mediocre. But U2 themselves have a passion and a fire which the Beatles, IMO, couldn't even imagine approaching.
As far as the Stones, they have a few really amazing songs. Sympathy for the Devil and Paint it Black come immediately to mind. There's very little in rock as good as those two. They have some other songs I like too. And then I quickly lose interest. I don't find a depth of material in their catalog at the level of Paint it Black. At a certain point, they lose my interest. I don't know why, except to point to taste.
As to THE WHO I think I just don't like their sound. It's not a question of technical ability. I can see that they have that. It's not a question of influence, they have clearly had that. I would just never intentionally listen to a song of theirs all the way through. Someone mentioned Bab O'Reilly. I pulled up the track before replying and just wanted it to stop halfway through. I can't get into that sound.
So what do I like? My favorite band is U2. The Cure is #2. Then some of my other favorites are Faith No More & Patton's many other projects, Tom Waits, Nick Cave, INXS, Billy Idol, Depeche Mode, Bowie, Bowie, Bowie, Grant Lee Phillips/Buffalo, The Beastie Boys, New Model Army, Ladytron, Eminem, The XX, Cults, the Kills, Smashing Pumpkins,
the Beatles, and many many many others. I've really been getting into Amon Amarth lately, which is much harder than what I usually listen to. I like the new Pixies album, I do not like most of Jack White's new album because I'm allergic to that style of country music. And my favorite non-U2 song may well be Echo and the Bunnymen's The Killing Moon.