I played some new USA Les Pauls (non-Custom Shop) at GC last year. I was so disgusted with the prices and quality I haven't even tried another since. How they sold those abominations is beyond me.
they'd just get bought up by some holding company and further capitalize on the name while continuing to put out a substandard product. All this while the ignorant consumer cares more about the status of owning a gibson over the quality of the instrument.