I look at a very large number of guitars, but still, my impressions, like those of most people posting here, reflect a relatively small sample size. Based on what I have seen, Gibson has progressed from releasing many flawed or poorly executed guitars to releasing consistenly fine pieces. I do think there are still more errors than there should be, and while I would not describe CS standards as "impeccable," I do think most recent releases have been excellent. In my own building and repair, I learned that great work is produced only when the worker is committed and invested in achieving superior results. For a while, Gibson was being described as a place where workers were dissatisfied, and I wonder if that contributed to the issue of underwhelming quality and tolerance for mediocre results. And, of course, it's infinitely easier to finish and assemble a Strat than it is to complete a LP.