I had a Gibson LP deluxe gold top in the early 80's and loved how it played. I switched to bass for decades afterwards and just recently decided to revisit the LP by getting a Gibson LP standard. It plays as well as I remember but, it is heavy (10 lbs 4 oz) but that's what helps give it awesome sustain. The biggest issue most people have with the Gibson's are that they are expensive - some say overpriced. I'm fortunate that at this point in my life I could afford it but if I was in my 20's I might well be looking at the Epiphone to save some dollars.
My opinion is, if you can afford it, get the original from Gibson. Don't get a used one more than a few years old as Gibson was putting out some pretty crappy guitars for a while - definitely do not get a weight reduced model. In the end, try as many as you can - pick the one that feels the best in your hands and fits your budget.