Re: hot rodded set ok for metal?
The JB IS 80s metal, in a superstrat it's the sound of hair metal: spongy mids, great leads, it's a really 'present' pickup. At that time you also had guys like Dave Mustaine from Megadeth using it for heavier tones too.
Here's one of my favourite clips of the JB:
The neck pickup is mostly about personal preference, both the 59 and the Jazz have similar voices, though the 59 was more likely what was used during the 80s.