I had a Wolfie, but I couldn't play it since the neck around the 12th fret was SOOO chunky!  It's definitely meant for the tappers.  I also had a Music Man Axis and it was probably my favorite guitar to play.  My customs take the shape of the LP Studio Dual Cut (shown above), the neck characteristics from the Axis and the scale length of a PRS.  I was able to get rid of about eight guitars that just two customs covered. 
 


The Wolfgang is the top left guitar, sure looks a lot like the Music Man Axis, but BOY did they play differently!

craigb
I had a Wolfie, but I couldn't play it since the neck around the 12th fret was SOOO chunky!  

I'm really not big on tapping, except for self-educational purposes. 
But I have BIG hands, so chunky is good with me. 

 

That looks easily playable!  Maybe "chunky" was the wrong word, the neck is thick, wide and kind of flat.  A perfect surface for tapping, but it's not enjoyable to play above the 12th fret.

craigb
That looks easily playable!  Maybe "chunky" was the wrong word, the neck is thick, wide and kind of flat.  A perfect surface for tapping, but it's not enjoyable to play above the 12th fret.

Indeed - the focus was to be placed on just how much finger length I had left unused with a regular neck. ;)
 
But I get what you mean. 

I actually got a minE Tune system for my new Les Paul 2014 Melody Maker....and, as McDonalds says, I'm Lovin it. Plus they have a new version that's actually better with more presets and more user tunings. It works a treat...although in standard tuning I like my low E tuned just a smidge flat...which I can do...and store. If you don't use any non standard tuning I can fully understand your reluctance to add this convenience to your axe. But if you do...its mighty helpful. Purists, I guess, need not apply:-)

yorolpal
I actually got a minE Tune system for my new Les Paul 2014 Melody Maker....and, as McDonalds says, I'm Lovin it. Plus they have a new version that's actually better with more presets and more user tunings. It works a treat...although in standard tuning I like my low E tuned just a smidge flat...which I can do...and store. If you don't use any non standard tuning I can fully understand your reluctance to add this convenience to your axe. But if you do...its mighty helpful. Purists, I guess, need not apply:-)

I'm big on alternate tunings - or used to be anyway. But I prefer to have a guitar for each tuning I use. ;)
 
Getting my Gibson is about me being a purist - some guys dream of a particular Ford Coupe or a Cadillac or whatever. For me it's a Gibson LP. In this case, tradition is more important than useful gadgets.

One of my issue is that the designer/ artistic side of me....I have issues buying something that I don't find visually pleasing. The tuning system on the back of the head stock looks really ugly to me and it's right there in your face.

If it was a little LED fiber optic light that lit red or green behind the tuner, or a small bulb imbedded in the tuner, I could handle that. Less ugliness.

Function wise, what if you want to tune your high E string a few cents short. Will it do that...or does it auto correct that?

You can store most any tuning as a user preset. Whatever you want...within reasonable limitations, I.e. You couldn't store a tuning where any of your strings were several octaves below normal pitch, etc...

It's fast enough that you can actually retune to a new tuning mid song if needed. It's a wonder. Plus...though it does feel different due to the servos...you can manually tune as well, if you prefer.

Rain
Getting my Gibson is about me being a purist - some guys dream of a particular Ford Coupe or a Cadillac or whatever. For me it's a Gibson LP. In this case, tradition is more important than useful gadgets.

Which answers your original question -
 
Gibson creates products for a variety of potential customers - Epi's for kids and working and/or cost-conscious musicians, high end for people with money to spare.
 
In the middle they seem to have decided to add functionality that the Epi's and clones don't have and also are perhaps making their guitars more readily in-tune than the competition in the Guitar Centers of the world. 
 
And for purists who dream of a traditional LP, maybe the dream is compelling enough for a number of people to pay a significantly higher price.

Rain
 
If I wanted something else, that somehow looks like a Les Paul but different, honestly, I probably wouldn't buy a Gibson. 
 

What did you think of the brass nut?