Probably due to the 2002's being very different from the in stock 2001s.....
According to the Les Paul Forum,
The new Standards have Kluson tuners instead of Grovers, different peghead, nickel hardware instead of chrome, pups that are close to being burstbuckers instead of the 490/498s and they have flame tops instead of plain tops......
I would imagine dealers wanting to close out the old, however, I also heard the new ones are gonna be the same actual retail as the 2001s were............so the sale prices on the 2001s will be a good deal, but, sheesh, when everybody sees the new ones they're gonna gripe that they didn't get the 2002.......gibs