A few things to add to this discussion:

I was recently speaking with my Aunt who grew up in the 60s and loved the
Beatles.  I was surprised when it became clear to me that she primarily
loves/loved them because of their image and it was "the thing to do".  She
seems to have had only a mild interest in the music itself.  I guess I was
foolishly thinking that Beatlemania was all about the passion for the music,
when in reality it was a lot about the passion for the extraneous things
(yes, even the trousers).  I couldn't help but feel a little disappointed
that my Aunt and many other Beatle fans of the day were not really that
different than any teenager today who's into the current hot, fashionable
group.  It just so happens that, by forces I don't think anyone can fully
explain, the hot, fashionable thing in the 60s was making the finest music
ever created.

Whether anyone has created or will create music better than the Beatles is
of course subjective.  Personally, I think some bands have, when looking at
things on a song vs. song basis.  For instance, when I think of songs like
"Brief Candles" by the Zombies, "Back of a Car" by Big Star, "Game of
Pricks" by Guided By Voices, or "Hooray of Tuesday" by the Minders, I think
"you know, I like these songs more than I like a lot of Beatles songs".
These bands have simply created melodies more pleasing to me than many
Beatles melodies.  But where the Beatles are supreme is the consistent high
quality of their output, even as their music evolved.  The aforementioned
bands, and I think just about all great bands, have not sustained their
excellence like the Beatles.  One reason may be that most bands seem to be
intent on not repeating themselves.  The Beatles were too, but the music did
not suffer as a result.

In 100 years, the Beatles will definitely be revered as they are today.
Hell, even 1,000 years from today.  The music is so appealing to so many and
will always be.  Some form of mass media will always exist.  Through this,
releases similar to "Anthology" and "1" will always be popular and
continuously remind people of the Beatles' greatness.

Gary B.