Update on the performance of the clear faceplate in bright sunlight:

When no direct sunlight hits the empeg it is very readable, but when
you do get direct sunlight it washes out quite badly... It looks like
the display (not the panel, I haven't had any problem with reflexes in
the panel itself ) reflects a lot of light. The original panels
somehow dealt better with this - probably a combo of the AR coating
and the fact that less light gets through the colored lenses.

I'll dig through my bag of photo gear and see if I can dig up a
polarizing filter and check if it makes any difference.

/Michael