Nice little camera but build quality is questionable.

Like one or two others here, I have to largely disagree with most of the OP's points.  I bought the SL1 in Jan 2014, when it became evident that Canon was not ready to take mirrorless seriously and announced their next versions would still not have eye level EVF's.  The SL1 was to be a stop gap in my downsizing.  I also have in the cabinet a 5D2 and 7D, either of which bodies weigh almost as much alone as the SL1 with a Tamron 16-300mm lens!

Note.  I did not expect the SL1 to have all the capabilities of a larger, more expensive camera.  If I had, I'm sure I'd have been as disappointed as a couple others here.  Instead, I'm impressed still with what it can do with such a small, light camera.  Yes, I do not shoot bursts of photos, as I still have a bit of a film mindset plus I get sick of spending hours deleting pictures at the computer.

Dislikes.  I don't want the back screen on.  Period.  But I've found the process of keeping it off a bit odd, although it does stay off now unless I hit the display button or the playback button.  Since the display is mostly off, I have no battery life issue.  Battery/card door is blocked by the quick release plate I have on the bottom of the camera.  OK, it's a small camera, so that is a tradeoff.

I have not had anything peel off.  I have, however, dropped the camera twice without damage.  A side effect of the small size is the reduced handholds.  I don't consider this a first line wildlife or bird camera, nor is it a studio camera.  For those things, you need a different body.  Full frame for the studio, faster AF for wildlife.  This is not for those things, except in a pinch.  What it is, is most of the capabilities of a full size DSLR in a package not much larger than a compact digital and at a lower price.

The SL1 is still my favorite digital camera, even though I have the workhorse studio camera in the 5D2 (preordered when it was announced), the 7D (also preordered), and coming next month, a 5DSr (also preordered the day it was announced).  Lots of serious cameras, but only one that is always fun!