Epson is claiming its new Ultimicron series of compact, high-temperature polysilicon (HTPS) panels will allow electronic viewfinders to offer the 'resolution and fidelity' required to fully replace optical viewfinders on digital SLRs. http://www.dpreview.com/news/0910/09101 ... spanel.asp
I doubt it will ever go away. ; However, the next generation of dSLRS will be mirrorless (a la m4/3 or the new Ricohs). ; I know that Nikon and Sony are working on a m4/3 competitor, and Canon is planning on an almost m4/3 sensor sized P&S, the return of the Powershot Pro line. ; (with a red ring lens) But for sports the optical viewfinder will never go away......there is something about the human eye that can't be digitized.[nb]Although Fuji is trying really hard with their sensor technology[/nb]