My avatar is a $4500 oversized Buckethead Lespaul(1 of less than 60 out of the original run, built with far different specs that the retail models) I tossed in the snow in my back yard for that pic.
Fenders are great too, I play both. Today, with modern audio technology, it is not necessary to have all these different types of guitars that sound only barely slightly different, but the actual FEEL of each is definitely unique.
But when it comes to collectability, Gibson guitars garner more attention(and thereby resale value), and I am not sure why. I'll never sell any of guitars though...might trade to get better, but never sell.
So, new models on the CES show floor, might be future purchases for me. Different paint, configurations, there's more variety to Les Pauls then there is to PCs!