If that Samsung NX200 had an integrated VF....
I would certainly agree with that, and the NX20 may well have that.
However I'm not a fan of very small cameras and pancake lenses, I find them very difficult to hold in a satisfactory stable way, and the "flimsiness" can be a cause of problems.
My wife has been trying out a GF3, and when I use it I'm constantly "battling" the camera, all the controls are too small and its just so difficult for me to use and feel comfortable with. Its so small I'm not sure a built in EVF or add-on would help much.
Of all the small mirrorless / E.V.I.L / CSC's I've used the NEX-7 is certainly the nicest I've used. The grip, though not substantially different from other NEX cameras, is very comfortable, and the positioning of the control wheels is a masterstroke, enabling very quick control over basic settings. The EVF is somewhat unusual being so far to the right of the camera, and its taking a bit of getting used to, but it does work well, plus no nose on the screen which is useful.
Though I like the rangefinder look aesthetically, it can be difficult to work with, and I always found the Leica M9 I had, could be a problem, until I bolted a grip onto it.
I know its easy for me to say, and I know they are still in short supply, but if anyone is interested in the camera, try getting your hands on one to see what it feels like. I picked mine out of the box, stuck my Zeiss lens on it and instantly knew I'd got something that will work for me. I would also mention that the NEX-7 / Zeiss 24mm combination looks and feels fantastic. Both are incredibly well-made, feel solid as a rock and yet are both very light.
Sometimes when I pick up one of these small cameras and use them, I'm unsure as to what to do with it, how to carry it and even how to hold it in a way thats comfortable. The NEX-7 is the complete opposite, it seems to fit in the hand like an old friend, and instead of thinking about the camera, I start thinking about the pictures I'm going to take with it.
I wrote this morning on my blog that not only have I been waiting for a camera like this since August when I put my first order in, I've probably been waiting for it my whole photographic life. All that performance and resolution in such a small light package, still astounds me. Many of us that have hauled SLR's, DSLR's and Medium-Format cameras around, will see it as the Holy Grail of travel / landscape / location cameras. I've certainly tried a LOT of other cameras, but never seem to have found that combination of terrific image quality and lack of bulk and weight. Though cameras like m4/3, X100, previous NEX cameras and yes even the M9, had their virtues individually, I've never found one that put it all together. Which probably goes to explain why I've had so many of the things! I was hoping that the NEX-7 would be "the one" and I could stop this constant chopping and changing. I'm happy to say its certainly the best option I've used so far.
Personally I couldn't care less if it has a pancake type lens range or not and to be honest I love the NEX lenses. They are superbly engineered and a joy to use. The NEX-7 seems to me that its designed by photographers for photographers. Its relatively gadget free, and laid out to be accessible, fast and accurate.
If you'd told me this time last year that I would have this available, I would have suggested you take more water with it, but I do, and while no camera is ever 100% right this one is pretty close for me.
Its actually somewhat of a "niche" camera, since its not really an all rounder. The high ISO performance is OK, but would be somewhat disappointing to those who do a lot of indoor and low light work. To be honest its not much better than current m4/3 cameras. But since I rarely move away from ISO 100, and work virtually exclusively in good light, its just what I've been looking for. Plus in my line of work 24MP is a good thing. A really good thing!