I think there is something to be said for owning a peice of art like a paul reed smith. I mean you could hang it up on a wall in the lounge and have your money's worth right there, but also they are a versatile guitar, and you will be able to find any sound you want inside of one. You might want to think of this next step as a commitment to guitar.
Most people go through three or for guitars before they know the one they want.
I don't need versatility as much as I need a guitar that has my tone, so I could live with a guitar that did one thing supremely well. I'm trying to say you could save yourself a lot of money by getting a guitar now which does most things you need from it. And it shouldn't depreciate like other guitars might. But certain guitars have a voice all their own, and are in the end more valuable to the player. I think there is something to be said for owning a peice of art like a paul reed smith.