>>Now why didn't someone point that out to me before? I am quite happy with my EP500, but this may have been grounds to have gotten the EP600 instead

Fear not... I actually got to see an EP600 today and it turns out I was wrong... the electronics are at ground level on an EP600 just like a 500.

Be happy !

M60ti, VP180, QS8, M2ti, EP500, PC-Plus 20-39
M5HP, M40ti, Sierra-1
LFR1100 active, ADA1500-4 and -8