Are you as stunned as I am?

First of all, I wouldn't lightly judge others' abilities.

Second, even if they're newbies and buying $1000 cameras, it's their money and they can spend it the way they damn well please. Whether it's $1 or $1000000, it's how some parts of the world works and I'm not even surprised - nor am I in the business to care.

Finally, I too have an E-PL1, and I like it.  Not as much as any of my past and present cams, but it's good enough for a while.