I bought a front-load HE machine a year ago and have cursed about it pretty much from the second week on. It is so frustrating to not have any "control" over the process. With a top load machine, I was able to open the door and test the wash or rinse water temperature and toggle back and forth between hot and warm or cold to get the temperature I wanted. I could leave the door open after it filled with water and was suddsy, and this gave me a soak period.
Now, with a front load, I can never tell what temperature it is using (meaning, I can't tell how hot the warm cycle is--with my old machine it was pretty hot so I blended some cold in sometimes). I can't just turn the dial ahead in the cycle or really override anything.
I am prewashing these fabrics because they are dark christmas colors that will be blended with a few light colors.