John, those customized features sound neat. Marty and Rider Sanderman, I didn't go for the diesel PE streamliner set when it came out...but I can see diesel fans liking it. The BiPolar locomotive was and still is one of my all-time favorites...I still the original MTH PS2 Milw. Road version, so the PE version from Lionel was an easy choice for me. Steamers remain my best choice for anything holiday related.
As for the PE Acela, I am guessing the cars come in around 20", and they're plastic but nonetheless look nice, and in fact are the selling point of the set, for me anyway. The "passive" tilt feature sounds neat but I have to wonder will it do anything noticeable. The PE Acela may turn out to be one of those sets that if buyers don't want they can at least sell and get the money back...though that may be rationalization on my part 
