Can I just add a little to your debate. The American Standard Stratocaster introduced in early 1996 was the first Fender model to have the swimming pool route, followed later by the Strat Plus and it's variants. Early ones may indeed have an "E3" or "E4" serial number. Some early examples to reach here in England also had GLOSS finished necks, before the more common matt/satin that we know today.
Regards,
Mark.
:yikes