Paul, I don't know where you live but I have both the 80s and the 60s so if you care to drop by for a comparison listen you're more than welcome. Also I bought my EP600 from the FO and the thing looks brand new with nary the first scratch or indication that it came from the FO. Some have said their particular shipping date was well ahead of the Axiom's proposed ship date, my delivery date was dead on what I was told.
Reading through the gist of your post here I'd suggest the 80s simply because if you do not I'm visualizing you as the type of person who will be questioning your decision and you'll end up sending a pair of 60s back to Axiom for trade up to the 80s. My preference? The 80s.
