Oh please, there's a lot of assumptions on your part in that paragraph. Let me clear them up.
1. Gibson is overpriced as well. Not a good choice for benchmark comparison.
2. $2300 for a USA Jackson is getting ripped off.
3. I believe PRS' quality control is as you say, but then again, it should be, given how much extra you're paying them for it.
4. The hardware and construction on SE models is hardly worth what they sell for, and you can easily find better instruments for less.
5. I never said I didn't like PRS. If someone handed me one, I'd keep it and be very happy. But I would never pay the asking price.
Well, one of us is "assuming", anyway! Just curious, but how much actual hands-on experience do you have setting up and working on different guitars, PRSes in particular? I've done it part-time for years (mostly just because I just like screwin' around with guitars & hangin' out in music stores!) and I've spent quality bench-time on all kinds of guitars by lots of different manufacturers, so I'm basing my opinion on actual, hands-on experience. What exactly are you formulating
your opinion on?
Gibsons (Les Pauls)
are overpriced, but really only because their quality is so infamously inconsistent. However, in the words of Joe Bonamassa: "If you get a good one, you can rule the world!" Also, what exactly, in your estimation, constitutes "overpriced"? Just curious, because it seems to be a rather vague commentary.
USA Jackson SL2H Soloist prices online:
$2060 - SameDayMusic.com (doesn't appear this includes a case, either!)
$2299.99 - Musician's Friend
$2059.99 - Zzounds.com (no case?)
Hardware not worth what an SE sells for? Only $600 buys you an SE online, and I've personally sold one brand new for $500! ("buddy" deal) I've worked on these and played quite a few of them, and I promise you, the hardware, workmanship and electronics are superior to the
vast majority of guitars in this price range. Care to provide any specific examples or other empirical evidence of other instruments in this price range that are better made/equipped? As for the American-made ones, again, what other, better guitars are you trying to say can be had for $2300? Give me something a bit more specific if you're gonna call me out on it, at least!
As for what you will/can pay for a guitar, that pretty much depends on the person and their bank account, doesn't it?
I respect your right to your opinion/conjecture, just so long as you realize that the list of people who would vehemently disagree with you is both very long and very distinguished!