Actually, I can't really agree with the OP position.  I remember when both were about equally popular and it really depended on the type of music you were making.

As for now, I completely agree that Gibson's popularity has dropped a lot but IMO that's easily due to their over-inflated prices and underachieving quality control!

No... the top line Fenders are not made in China. Some of their parts may be but that would be true with Gibson as well. Gibsons just charge a heckuva a lot more. They are however a little more work to put together though so I understand a bit of a price gap... but not as much as is the current reality. Their quality has been going downhill lately as well.

Exactly, craig. They are just phoning it in and relying on their name. I hate companies that do that *cough cough* Avid *cough cough*...

Your higher frequency hearing is waning and the Fender does not sound as twangy as it did before, but it still is, and of course Country music has to use the Fenders for some reason no one really knows.

Well, I don't really care about gibson or fender as a company and their politics but don't tell me you don't hear a difference in sound quality between those two. Listen to early Clapton and then to the current versions of his song for instance with fender, sound thin and uninspiring.

Teles are nice solid axes.

Clapton is poor example. His playing is kind of "thin" as it is... and I dare you to try and get a nice SRV tone out of a Gibson. It just ain't gonna happen.

I bought a 2012 American Telecaster not so long ago and it is a sweet sweet guitar...played like a dream right out of the case with no setup required. It just oozes quality. It's my first Tele and I have to say I think I've found my guitar...although I still need to get me something with Humbuckers to rock out on. Back home in the UK I have an Epiphone "Spotlight" also known as the PRS lawsuit guitar (it's basically a PRS copy that was discontinued after only a few were made) that I got in '88 and it was my go-to electric for 15 years before I moved to the US. I'd have it sent over but it needs a lot of work doing on it. Epiphone makes some fantastic guitars. 

Personally I like modded out knock offs better anyway. Find an off brand axe with a quality neck/fretboard/body and load that sucker up. My main guit right now is a Pacifica and I love it.

Teles with a nice chrome installed shine like nothing else. Very versatile too. I wouldn't use one for metal but most other stuff it will usually fit right in.