He has played beside hide's spirit with humble joy since the 1st day he took the stage where hide used to stand/sit. With or without hide visuals or playback, Sugizo will undoubtedly continue to do so in a way only Sugizo is able.
I totally agree with you. Sugizo never wanted or tried to take hide's place, he [SGZ] himself said that he was the sixth member. And it's good that way, if you ask me.
Anyway...
I think HEADWAX is only trying to make money out of hide's image. I don't know, I haven't been into X or hide for too long, but I read and saw enough to make an impression. And yes, I agree that it's way more complicated than it seems, but the amount of money HEADWAX is asking for is way too much. I'm not saying that JMA is not guilty, but the whole thing is totally unballanced. I mean, they only used hide's image briefly in Yokohama. But the thing I don't understand is why does Hiroshi own hide's image? In my opinion, at least for the X/X Japan material, Yoshiki should have the rights.
And I don't think Yoshiki is trying to make money out of hide's image. Because, as it was already already, no one paid him for composing I.V. in such manner that hide's guitar tracks would fit. Not to mention the hide hologram. So yes, he's pretty much doing everything because he wants everyone to know how great is hide (he said so, if I'm not mistaken)
Anyway, it's just that Hiroshi is trying to make too much money from hide. And this whole thing is just stupid - I hope Yoshiki will get out of this and hide won't "leave" the band.