This would help to explain why the RD1s was never launched in the U.S. Too bad, but it always struck me as odd that Epson would enter a small, traditional, unfamiliar market anyway.
When I finally (January before last) decided to buy a digital camera, there were two real contenders for me- the RD1 and Pentax's offerings. I wanted a small, simple tool that used an existing lens system. I ended up with the Pentax- though it fails miserably in the simpicity department, it is quite versatile, uses lenses I already own and much less expensive. So in a way, I drove a nail in the Epson's coffin. Too bad.