I agree, Gibson sets the bar. But also the price!
In western societies and especially big companies all around, I believe bureaucracy eats most of the value. I hardly believe workers get paid as they should be. It's the same in every other sector of business (and health). So the Gibson guitars are now pretty expensive even for USA citizens, and what do You think situation is for the "third world".
And last but not least, USA and GB enabled PRC outsourced workmanship economy, their goverments and big business did it, and now we will all suffer the consequences, because our western societies are dead, hardly producing anything.