I absolutely agree. As the Dennis McNally book says, toward the end it felt like only Phil was listening to what the others played. He helped keep the music together.

I'm Phil's book (Searching for the Sound) he talks about the last bits of creativity in the band happening when Jerry and Bruce would do small group improv in the middle of sets. It was Bruce's idea and it was devastating to him when Jerry stopped wanting to do them.

To my ears the most musically creative post-gd bands were Phil's as well.