An E61 is the wrong choice. They have fluidic mechanical pressure ramp system. A modern machine ought to have adjustable computerized pressure profiles.
Yes. E61s are full of springs and an orifice and a valve body that ramps the pressure mechanically. This is not only overly complicated but it exposes the brew water to dissimilar metals and adds a ton of surface area to shit up with rancid coffee oil. A group with a shorter water path is better since we can easily have control over the pressure with a computer.