[Chan Tran]

I solve the OM1 meter/battery problem by leaving the switch set to 'off'.

I actually wish they made an OM1 with no meter at all; it's a sexy camera but if there was no ISO dial cluttering up the top cover, and no meter needle cluttering up the viewfinder, it would be truly awesome.

I totally agree with you but if back then Olympus made the OM-1 without a meter they could not sell it. Although there were many people back then who could shoot without a meter but back then the built in meter made the camera much more valuable to people. Today I think the number of people who rely on meter is greater than in the old days but meterless camera is more appealling. Uhm! an oxymoron?