I don't know about comparisons, theoretical or otherwise to other Canon film cameras, but I use a 1V and have never experienced anything like it. My experience goes back to the seventies so I've shot a lot of film.
All I can say is the 1V takes me into a whole different world. It's the difference between a night at a Holiday Inn and a night at a Ritz Carlton. You never even have to think about what you want -- it's just there for you.
Someone mentioned the computer link capability. That would be nice since there is no EXIF type info; you'd have to record individual shot info yourself manually. The camera does have the link capability, but finding the software and cabling is the first problem. It can be had, but it's not cheap. Second, most of the current computer operating systems are now incompatible.
I've shot everything from 110 to MF film cameras, and nothing has ever equaled the 1V. Nothing else has even come close.
I decided to get the 1V last year (used on Ebay) to get better performance in street photography than I could with anything less than a 1D, which I couldn't afford. It has done that. Now that the 5D3 is here, I'll be going with that instead -- my 1V will provide some of the funding! I still have a lot of other film cameras if I want to just play with film.
I expect the price for used 1V cameras to come down even more now that digital cameras offer performance like you can get in the 5D3 and even the 7D.
My advice is if you want to shoot film, don't bother with anything "almost as good" as the 1V. The cost differences are too small to make such a compromise.