My understanding is that the standard USB interface allows you to plug in a USB stick.
I have the USB interface in my current E81 which i can plug an Ipod into and scroll about through the tracks so assume i'll be able to do the same when i pick the new one up a week on thursday.
To be honest i just stick to a 16gb USB stick, which cost about £20. Plugging the ipod in and out all the time is just a pain in the arse and if some bugger smashed in i dont care that much about having the USB nabbed.
P.s Glad to see you coming over from the dark side, A3 driver