Sarah: This is just a tribute

Have you ever noticed those "String Quartet Tribute to..." c.d.s at the store, mixed in with the albums of your favorite artists? I know there is such a c.d. for Radiohead, and I'm pretty sure there is also one for Rage Against the Machine. How am I supposed to feel about this? As a classical musician, I feel that I should have strong emotions towards this bridge between genres. But I'm just not sure. I don't really get the concept. I mean, true fans of classical music will recognize that quartet arrangements of Karma Police are not on the same level as Shostakovich and Brahms. However, when you're in the mood for Rage, are you going to listen to something that, to the untrained ear, sounds like elevator muzak? That doesn't seem likely, somehow. I also wonder if there is a single quartet that specializes in these recordings? Are they looked down upon by their contemporaries? The main question that I send out to the void is: What is the purpose of these "tribute" c.d.s?