RP can do all of that. I think part of the reason there's such ongoing debate is because people figure out one system and they don't want to learn the others so they don't. Then when someone says RP is great because of its tubes and item sorters, everyone smiles and nods and yes that is why RP is good but this OTHER system does THIS that RP doesn't do...
RP does it all. Add in cleverly used filters and retrievers and you can run an auto-crafting system that pulls only what it needs, too, but a person has to have an understanding beyond "item sorters and tubes" to make it happen.
I think you're oversimplifying the situation a bit. Yes, RP tubes can probably do everything LP can do, but not as simply as LP does it. A state of affairs I am actually fine with since LP costs significantly more than RP.
Have I learned RP's method of sorting first hand? No. But comparing DW20's S4 SSP sorting system vs his S3 SMP sorting gives me a good idea of the relative complexity of each system. Comparing the two we get the following.
LP:
- An input chest with a Mk2 Chassis w/Quicksort and Itemsink to provide the default route. So input also functions as overflow/unsorted chest.
- Storage was a Mk2 Chassis w/Polymorphic Itemsinks and Provider modules. Storage is configured at the chests.
- Processing was a Mk2 Chassis w/Itemsink and Extractor modules.
- Autocrafting is done with a Mk2 Chassis w/Autocrafting module and Extraction module.
RP:
- Input chest is pulled from by a sorter. Early on required a timer but that is now built into the sorter. Chest cannot be the unsorted/overflow chest.
- Sorter had a limited number of routes as well as a limited number of items per route. Storage is configured at the front end and presume availability many colors.
- Processing required multiple machines to dump into and extract from the machines.
- Autocrafting has not yet been featured, though seeing the examples here it does not look particularly enjoyable.
So yes, RP can do what LP does, but the hoops the player has to go through are greater. The main power of LP is that a single pipe connection can represent multiple functions whereas RP seems to require a single connection for a single function. Also there simply is no comparison the quicksort/polymprhic method of sorting configuration. I put things here to enter the system, they will go to where I have already sorted them by simply placing in a chest. Also, LP has a priority system which overrides simple "closest inventory" which RP heavily relies upon. To me this makes LP easier to conceptualize and manage. This is why in my current world I skipped RP sorting and have simply done without until I can get my LP network up and running. A point to which I have almost arrived.
Similar, in fact, to how I decided to just skip as much of the BC liquid and power pipes as I could until I got the infrastructure built up to reliably create REConduits and Liquiducts. More expensive, takes longer to get into, but simpler in the long run to build and manage.
I don't think everyone should use LP. Use it if you want, don't use it if you don't. RP's method works for some people, great. But I do think it isn't honest to say they can do "all the same things" and leave out that the methods by which they achieve the goal differs enough that people cannot find value in using one over the other; even after looking at both.
Personally, RP to me shines at what it does which is unique in the mod sphere. Alloy wiring, gates, lights. As far as I know there are no other mods which provide those essential functions. Quite honestly if tomorrow all LP sources, archives and installs were to disappear from the world the modded Minecraft community would be poorer for it but would be able to soldier on. If the same were to happen to RP many builds would be devastated because of the exponential growth and complexity it would take to replicate the simple structures wiring and gates afford the community. That, and we'd all be back to those freakin torches everywhere. >.<