Thank you for your answers!
@Martin: Thanks for clearing that up!
@nilberg: I agree with you that my assessment might not sound entirely fair. But please understand that I am speaking just from reading the product descriptions. Been skirting around VSL stuff for a long time...
SE does offer many more instruments, 24bit, the great VI engine, the legato stuff. But you pay for that with very few choices of articulations, (very) limited veliocity layers, lack of sample editing ability, etc...
I see this as perfectly acceptable for someone who sees SE as his entry to the sampling world. Anyone making this his first orchestra library will be in heaven!
On the other hand I considered Opus 1/2 a product for more "advanced" sample users, who were in need of more articulations to expand their pool. Seeing it that way the discontinuation is a great loss. Of course unless VSL plans another mid-level product to complete the gaps that were left open by SE.
Right now someone who already owns some sample libraries and wants more choices in samples (i.e. me) can no longer opt for Opus 1/2. SE does not offer anything for me (I already own good samples for those instruments, featuring more veliocity layers etc.), and if I e.g. wanted some of the great brass sounds from Opus 1, I now would need to buy the full "Brass1 Std.+Extended" library. Unfortunately that is a bit out of my current budget.
I certainly will watch the further developments with great interest! Thanks again for taking the time to answer my questions!