You're still doing apples and oranges. KISS and Alice Cooper influenced many rockers, too, but would you also call them geniuses? Or Korn? Aerosmith? Skynyrd? That word is bandied about far too frequently and undeservedly with respect to rock and pop. We ARE entitled to our opinions (even Frank Sinatra, with whom I must disagree on "Something"). Sorry I stepped on your toes.
You didn't step on my toes. You're right, sales don't equal genius; however, sales + universal influence + nearly-unanimous critical acclaim for 40 years certainly makes a claim for the latter. KISS, Alice Cooper, etc., sold some records and may have influenced smaller numbers of bands, but they don't measure up in those two categories to the Beatles, plus the near-complete lack of critical acclaim (beyond "good MTV video fodder - should sell millions" in the case of Steven Tyler & Co.) leaves them far behind in the genius category.
Freegards!