Experience with Orion Epic ED-2?

I'm thinking about getting an eyepiece with a short focal length for my refractor later this year. It would have to be economical (under $75) and I noticed that Orion offers their Epic ED-2 eyepiece in a 5.1mm and 3.7mm. It also appears that they have a fairly wide lens. Does anyone have experience with this series of eyepieces, particularly the ones with a shorter focal length?

The reviews on the Excelsis site mention that when you hold you eye up close to the Orion Epic ED-2 eyepiece (which appears to be the same eyepiece as Celestron's X-Cel series) it will "blacken out". What does this mean?

Would it be better to get a long focal length eyepiece (in the 5mm to 2.5mm range) that has a small lens? I wear glasses but take them off when I view, so an eyepiece with long eye relief is not that critical.

Don't know if this will help, but I've been using the Epics and the XCEL's (they do appear to be identical) from 25mm to 5mm for several months on a 8"/f10 SCT. The only trouble I had with blackouts was when I barlowed. Sold the barlow and finished out the set. No ghosting, great contrast, sharp. On really bright planets you will see a reflection of your own eye/pupil due to the size and curvature of the lens ( it's eliminated when I center the object). I tried the Expanse set and returned it due field curvature and radial distortion. I think they may be intended for much faster scopes.