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If you're buying a "brand-new" guitar from a respected brand and online store, then I guess it's okay. Second-hand stuff I'm more iffy about, personally speaking.

the good thing about Les Paul's is that they all have the same basic components; pricier models of course have better parts (body etc.) but it's pretty much the same basic set-up. From what I heard, with pricy Les Pauls your pretty much just paying for looks (unless of course you're buying an older model which would make it drastically different.)
So with that said, yeah, I play a $1000 Les Paul Special lol

I'll just give you one advice which is don't buy guitars because their signature's or memory or something buy for quality. A lot of people buy a Les Paul because they think that a Les Paul will sound good but half of what your buying is just in the brand name.
A lot of people buy esp's with the les paul shape because they like metal more than a Les Paul.
Others buy Paul Reed Smith for the nice unique sound.
Others buy fender and so on.
Overall if your buying a signature or a guitar for its name your only ripping yourself off.