I agree for the most part;.....I don't think 'Respect' is rock and roll ,but it's a great song.
'American Pie' is also a great song just not the best 'rock song'. (BTW...most list it and McLean as folk rock...which itself covers a big area.)
I also think Wenner made the RRHF his own little pet project and in the end not a true rock hall of fame.
Interestingly he made some derogatory comments about some women and some black musicians not that long ago in an interview about why they were not included in his book of interviews on great artists and musicians from his days with Rolling Stone magazine. He said they 'were not as articulate' as the famous male musicians in his opinion. Not very inclusive for a man who came out as gay not that long ago.
BTW...there is a Country Music Hall of Fame , a Rhythm & BLues Hall of Fame , a Soul Hall of Fame....and a Classical Music Hall of Fame, and a National Jazz Hall of Fame....they all have places and members ,etc,.....so why are there soul, r&b , rap, (and even jazz people named as ''early influencers' ) in the RRHF?