What I like about the E-1 is it's simplicity, all the features you need if, like me you had been using an M/F 35mm SLR. I found it very user friendly, more so than the E-3 (I still need to double check when using the Dual Function buttons, something I really hope they change on the next single digit body)

A future classic? IMO it's already a classic, that people decided to stick with it and wait for the E-3 rather than switch brands (believe me I was tempted by the K10D) says it all really.

The E-1 is a camera that was much more than the sum of it's parts IMO