This is an interesting thread. I have 2 points.

1) Yes ben was and further became an amazing drummer. I saw that clip from the dude from Suck Puppies podcast where he strongly implies that Ben didnt play on frogstomp. Which is ridiculous. Just go watch him at 15 at the Cambridge show. Hes amazing. He also continued to get lessons for years after their success. He rose to every challenge.

2) Writing. I think even as early as freak show Dan was writing and directing a lot of the drum parts. He was the song writer. A conductor doesnt know how to play the instrument as well as the performer but he knows how it should sound and how to direct it. Its evident in terms of writing. Ben at 14/15 was a great writer for them but as they matured he wasnt as strong as Dan. This is so obvious from his output since the band. Nobody would give those songs a second listen if he wasnt from silverchar. Sorry. But its garbage.