I have always carried the originals.
However, the only time I have ever been ramp checked was in France.
I keep a photocopy of my licences and ratings on my knee board - which I produced together with the aircraft documents. They never asked to see my original licences which were in the "hold". In fact the only thing they seemed remotely interested in was the PLOG - which somewhat caught me unawares. Now I dont bother too much with a PLOG - I have always had at least twin GPS and unless I have any doubts about the weather not much else in the way of a plan. Anyway I cobbled together something that vaguely met the bill - they didnt seem to have the least idea what they were looking at - we all wished each other a good day and they wandered off to drive someone else mad.
Its probably all a little different these days as that was some years ago.