I don't know if strats were looked sown upon, but there certainly was a period in the 80s when Les Paul's weren't exactly the most sought after guitars in the rock/metal world.
 
Ace Frehley mentions in his book that he got rid of a bunch of his for ridiculously little money because every one was into super strats.
 
Had Van Halen (and later, Yngwie Malmsteen, Satriani and Vai) played Les Paul, things might have been different. 

Talking about Ace Frehley reminds me...  I'm trying to think of those that tried three humbuckers on their Les Pauls...  There was Peter Frampton, Ace (who sometimes had a smoke bomb in there instead) and, I think, Zack Wylde.  Anyone else?  (Well, besides Nigel Tufnel of course!  )
 
Personally, I think an HSH is very usable, but three humbuckers is not.
 
And, getting back on topic, I think the real reason that Les Pauls didn't work out with metal was because they weren't pointy enough!

craigb
Talking about Ace Frehley reminds me...  I'm trying to think of those that tried three humbuckers on their Les Pauls...  There was Peter Frampton, Ace (who sometimes had a smoke bomb in there instead) and, I think, Zack Wylde.  Anyone else?  (Well, besides Nigel Tufnel of course!  )

If you count adding a Super Distortion between 2 mini HB's, Townshend's famed numbered LP Deluxes.

How could you forget THE man?!!! :P

 
And:
 

 
 
Frehley likes the way the Les Paul looks w/ 3 pick ups but uses the bridge pick up pretty much exclusively. 
 
I just realize that 3 of my biggest influences ever all played Les Paul's equipped w/ 3 pick ups. Though I don't think any of them actually used those 3 pick-ups.

Never knew what Randy played, but Jimmy?  Definitely never saw him actually play something like that!

Randy was my biggest hero back then - my room looked like some sort of RR shrine.
 
 
On top of being my favorite musician, he played a Les Paul, which helped me cope with the fact that I was stuck w/ a Les Paul copy when all my friends and almost every guitar hero out there had strats and superstrats. 
 
As for Jimmy, I think I've seen live footage of him playing that guitar. 

I grew up playing with a guitarist that played a Black Beauty.
 
I wasn't "into" Randy but I really liked his playing- I thought the "V"
was his main guitar. ? ( I don't know why I think that)
 
 
 
 
I know if I went to the store looking for one that I don't think I could
expect to find something like this from Gibson and I know that if I did
I'd pay no telling how much more for it and I also believe that it would
need to go to a luthier to get it setup for me.....when  I could have just
called a luthier from the start. Probably saved a lot of money and ended up
with a guitar that was built to fit and look as I wanted.
 
 
Here's one a "nobody" built. ( not me although I have had templates for one for years)
Personally I don't like the jack location or the fret dots but isn't that what is really cool...being
able to have little things changed to make it "right" ?
 
(magnetic control cavity cover and truss-rod cover- nice touch)
 
 

I've been fortunate enough to buy pretty much any guitar I want. After sending back 3 Gibson Les Pauls, I purchased a Epiphone Les Paul with the Heritage Cherry Sunburst. Great guitar, with a sweet finish and a very high quality build. I had it about 2 years before I switched out the pickups with Gibson 57 Classic and 57 Classic Plus pickups. Being a left handed player, it's tough to find a quality guitar off the rack.
 
About 8 years ago, I wanted a Stratocaster and looked at and played probably 20 all over the northeast U.S. I eventually discovered USACG, and started working with them to design what I wanted. After receiving the body and neck from them, I started working with a local luthier on the electronics and hardware. Seymour Duncan Hot Rail, Cool Rail, and Vintage Rail pickups. Original Floyd Rose Tremolo with locking nut. Grover tuners. All together it came to just short of $1200.00. Every time I've walked in to my studio for the last 8 years, it's the guitar I pickup first. It just feels right and sounds so good to me. I didn't even install strap buttons. I have no desire to take it out of the house. It's that special to me.
 
I've since bought a new Telecaster, a new Agile semi-hollow body with P90's, a Telecaster Swingline that's in parts, and a few others, but having a custom made guitar just feels great.
 
Now if I could get Spacey to flip his mind around and build me something like a  left handed custom Gretsch White Falcon, then I could call my collection complete.
 
Randy

Man I wish I had the skills....working on it Randy.
 
I've wanted a White Falcon as far back as I can remember. I really can't think of another
guitar I can say that about. I honestly don't know why I never saved my change to buy one....I still don't think I will.
 
I've started working on binding and spray finish skills. Then I'll probably move to top carving (solid body first) and then I'll focus on hollow body...semi-hollow first.
 
I really think the only problem I'd have building lefty is I wouldn't be able to evaluate the playing during set-up....that would be strange...but fun.
 
I put P-90's in a beautiful Tele style ...I built just to have for somebody that may want it. Problem was I didn't get the tuner holes perfect. Somehow something tilted during drilling and I had to straighten out the holes which left slack in a couple of them. Couldn't tell by looking but I knew so I kept it. The P-90s are just insane. I love the sound. I'll be winding more of them for guitars I make for myself. If you're a picker and don't have an axe with those pups...man, give them a shot.

spacey
I've wanted a White Falcon as far back as I can remember. I really can't think of another
guitar I can say that about. I honestly don't know why I never saved my change to buy one....I still don't think I will.
 

A White Falcon is at the top of my wish list too.
 
But I can't justify it when I have limited funds and could probably build 3 beautiful instruments for what it would cost.
 
But I can dream.