A couple of years back, I was very much in the market for buying a (new) US Les Paul Standard. After some considerable research, I'd even tracked down a couple of 'last year's model' guitars priced to go at £1,499 instead of the list price of £1,899.
 
As part of deciding whether or not to pull the trigger, I really did dig around quite deeply into reviews and articles. I also sought the advice of me old mate James who owns and loves his (albeit not modern) LP.
 
I went and played a number of new models, as well as a 1970s model on sale (for a lot more than £1,499!) at a local guitar store.
 
When push came to shove, I just didn't feel like I'd be getting a guitar worth the sort of money they were asking - even at the discounted price. The '70s guitar I tried felt like a completely different and far superior brand to the new stuff, but I wasn't really up for spending that much.
 
I finished up spending a little bit more, but ended up with two US built guitars  
 
I managed to pick up - in relatively quick succession - a last-year-of-production US Deluxe Telecaster and similar US Deluxe HSS Stratocaster. As these were models destined to shortly be replaced by the Fender Elite range, they'd both been heavily discounted (to around the price of the Standard models in the range) in order to clear the shelves.
 
So for just north of the price of a US Standard LP, I ended up with two gorgeous (both tobacco burst/maple neck) US Fenders. I have to say (while conceding that hindsight is a wonderful thing) that I'm so glad I made the decision I did. And this is from a chap who's always wanted a 'real' Les Paul ever since I started playing back in the stone age.
 
 

My '76 Les Paul was a gem I never should have sold and the LP Studio Double-cut I got later was also a favorite but, when I went to buy another Les Paul Standard around ten years ago, I must have tried over 30 at a Guitar Center and almost all of them had some kind of defect.  Basically I found two that seemed finished and ready to go (neither of which I purchased since I really didn't bond with either - I ended up getting a used LP Classic from a friend going through a divorce instead).  
 
The point being, Gibson's quality control was failing miserably even back then.  If I buy a $300 guitar, I expect to need to have some work done to make it playable.  I DON'T expect this if I'm paying over $2,300!

In Canada every Les Paul I've owned or looked at seriously was over $5k. The standards are really hit and miss and those cost about $3k. They have become the Harley Davidson's of the guitar world. All sizzle and no steak. They think that past glory and hype will carry them. Min-E-tune and control wiring from computer parts bins don't match the image they portray. I can hardly wait to see what they make in China. 

"Ow Chibsons will be happy quality!  You make pleasure!"
 
~So Wong
Head of QA

Another interesting Gibson story I found when trying to find out more about this Garrison guitar I bought. There was little information other than the story of how they started in 2001 in Newfoundland and Gibson bought them in 2007 and shortly killed the factory.  
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Garrison_Guitars
 
If they kill Cakewalk we can only hope that the boys wander off to re start a new company. 
They would not have to honour our lifetime updaates.