There is also the fact that perhaps for younger players listening to Beck it seems like he isn't doing anything all that special or unique.
Thing is though... he was the originator of a LOT of those licks, riffs and deedleedoops.
A lot of his fancier stuff reminds me of Satriani (and Vai)... who I listened to quite a bit when I first started playing. Of course the Satch came MUCH later than Beck and Satch taught Vai. Once I got my hands on some Beck stuff it blew me away he was doing those things so much earlier.
Then there is Zappa who did a lot of similar stuff when he soloed. Not sure if Beck influenced him or vice versa or if they both came to it all organically on their own (it's really just modal mayhem).
Whatevs... Beck is kind of the grandpappy of that spacey, modal slickster rock sound... and he does it, IMO, in a more mature, tasteful, less flashy way than those other guys (not including Zappa Sr in that... he was something different).
That is totally ignoring his blues stuff which is a whole 'nother style and goes waaaay further back.
His supporting material is also much more inclusive and tasteful than Satch/Vai too who's backing bands are mostly just there for them to shred over.
This of course can be seen in the vid above and his inclusion of Tal in the band in the first place. She's actually much flashier/more physically proficient than he is IMO. He's actually kind of sloppy compared to her.
Meh... he was doing his thing before I was even born (WAY before) so my perspective/history is likely just as skewed as other youngin's. I'd imagine listening to Beck back in the day would have been utterly mind blowing.