Yes. With the normal installation, when the power button is pressed the unit will boot into the RB firmware. If you plug your player into your computer while RB is running, it will switch over to the OF for charging and adding or deleting content (this is 2 of the things you still need the OF for as RB doesn’t support the USB connection, but they’re getting close).
Understood.
If you want to boot into the Sansa OF, simply press & hold the REW |<< button just after you press the power button, this will launch the original firmware. There is also a ‘reverse boot-loader’ that will (what else ?) reverse this process, so it boots to to the OF by default.
Again, understood. Thank you. 
While RB does have a number of enhancements & options regarding this, do not confuse ‘audio playback quality’ with ‘sound quality’. RB allows you to ‘manipulate’ playback settings 'till the cows come home, but one cannot enhance or make better something that isn’t there to begin with. You can certainly ‘pimp out’ a Prius, but it ain’t ever gonna be no Cadillac. They (Rockbox developers) can only work with what they’ve got in the v1 hardware.
Agreed.
The v2 has better sound quality than the v1 thanks to it’s AMS processor chip. This & it’s acompanying hardware is what also allows use of the larger SDHC memory cards (currently up to 16GB) where the v1 does not support them (only SD, up to 2GB). This is probably the biggest single reason people decide to install RB on their v1 devices as RB supports this newer format so the larger cards can be used with the older players.
Given my experience, this is the primary reason, I believe, Newegg misrepresents (or intentionally represents) its Sansa e260 players on their website. I recognize that Newegg is not alone in this regard, that many online retailer choose to deceive buyers by not disclosing exactly what they are selling. However, if every time a consumer orders a product from a well-respected online retailer, perhaps Newegg, expecting to receive the latest and greatest product, but instead receives new OLD STOCK (a Sansa e260 v1 perhaps), and, if disappointed, accepts an RMA for a refund instead of doing whatever they can to hold the retailer accountable, then online retailers, like Newegg, will continue to employ advertising and marketing strategies that DEFRAUD, in my opinion, a significatn percentage of consumers.
When the v2 nut is cracked by the folks at Rockbox, the multitude of playback & sound settings paired with the native higher quality sound is going to make an awesome-sounding device.
Like you, and many others, I am looking forward to the day. 
Ask & ye shall receive . . . 01.02.18 firmware
WOO HOO! YIPPEE!! EXCELLENT!!! Thank you so very, very much, Tapeworm! Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
It’s always nice to hear a happy ending to a story. That is, after all the bottom line, isn’t it? 
As a business owner, I say what I do and do what I say, and I expect the same from others - Newegg or any retailer (online or on the street). As a cautious consumer, I typically ask questions up front, prior to purchasing. In this case, I did just that and, after the fact, was not pleased with the result. Today, I consider a $22 Sansa e260 v1 a decent purchase even if it is new OLD STOCK. With the savings, I will be purchasing a new Sansa e260 v2 from another online retailer - I can only hope they do as they say.
Thanks again, Tapeworm!!
Best regards,
CurlySue
P.S. I finally recognized the “Solution?” icon was active and upon clicking it, I see the result. I hope you get a few GOLD STARS from Sandisk, Tapeworm, because you certainly deserve their BEST!
Message Edited by CurlySue on 03-02-2009 12:00 AM
