MDs have (for the most part) always had optical in.
I believe all HIMDs have had stereo level meters. Ive got the MZ-NH10 about a year ago and it had has it.
Sony has a 2GB disc in the works but who knows when it will come out.
DPA 4060 > MMA600 > MZ-RH10 sounds like
this and
thisIf it will take a AA battery on the side then im game. I dig the OLED of my current unit but its REALLY bright and would like to have something that is a tad darker and from the pic it looks like it is.
Looking at the picture it looks like the display is on the top side of the unit which will be nice...you can just look down into your pocket and check your levels with out having to take out.
The lack of usb 2.0 is my only complaint about the model ive got now but according to the spec page it will support it. I dont know what the read speeds are on the MD but its got to be faster then 11mb a sec...it takes damn near forever to upload a show in PCM.