Re: epiphone les pauls?
Heritages are nice but I'm not sure they outplay any Gibson I've had once both guitars are set up properly. My particular H150 may have out-toned a couple tho

They are nice guitars for sure. But not quite "right" to me...And I never could place it....and not just cosmetically....perhaps its the fretboard radius/neck shape....?, something never felt right...mass of the headstock? slghtly diff bridge?..I'm not sure.
As for Epiphones: They are hit or miss.
However while my Gibson totally outshines the Epi in build quality/looks/electronics... as they are now, the Epi "out pauls" the real thing for sound. Perhaps it's jes the BBpros in my Gibson (I'm hoping so), but the Epi sounds/sustains as good as just about every Gibson LP I've had and the Heritage. You'd never know it wasn't a "real" one if ya couldn't see it. The pups aren't noisy, they are clear as a bell (within the limitations of it's PAF style design) or crunch like crazy and the sound is fat , blooms, and sustains very well.
The Epi also actually plays better for me. The action is a bit more snappy/responsive/tight...(enough resistance to keep me honest without causing me to work TOO hard) compared to the Gibson which is a little more buttery..it's almost too easy to play..even though they are set up basically identical.
If you are on a budget, play a bunch. I would stick with the LP Standard PLUS tho if going the Epi route. They use a Mahogany neck vs. the maple of the less expensive Epi LP's, and they seem to be a step up from the Classics and plain Standards overall.
Although I' have to admit I'm a little anal about having a Gibson proper, if it came down to it, If I could only have one and the new pups for my Gibson didn't help, the Epiphone with some electronics/nut work, would be my choice as far as tone/playability.