I've tried both the Epi LP Special 2 and the GS200 and here is my take: the GS200 does indeed have a slightly brighter tone, but i took it as a plus as it allows the guitar to cut thru the mix better than the Epi. The GS200 also featured much better stock pickups than the Epi in my opinion, they handled gain better and weren't as muddy, on cleans they were more transparent (funnily) and lively (could be a function of the naturally brighter tone). Weightwise, the GS200 was slightly heavier. The Epi was more responsive to changes in picking dynamics and also featured a more comfortable action (tried @SV so it was well setup by Mike). The GS200 had slightly uneven frets, which weren't present on the Epi (again, probably Mike's work). My verdict: i liked the GS200 better due to the better stock pickups. I'd go for it especially if you want to use it for high gain stuff.
As for practice amps and modelling amps, the 2 aren't mutually exclusive. A small modelling amp like the Spider IV 15 can also be a practice amp. The main difference between normal amps and modelling amps is the circuit inside: modelling amps generally have a digital effects processor that can emulate the tones of many 'better' amps (better is subjective) and they also include different effects like a phase, reverb, chorus etc (depends on the brand and cost of the amp). Normal amps usually have at most 4 seperate channels that consist of an analog circuit that does not seek to emulate any particular amp model; this means they have a unique tone. They usually have only reverb and maybe a noise gate (for the more expensive amps). Hopefully this hopes to further clear up your doubts/questions on amps.
