We've got a highly locked-down exchange server here, when I use exchange in windows mobile, it forces a PIN number to be set up with an auto lock at 20 min or less, or else it won't send some sort of security certificate. Apparently the version of the email/active sync app on the Eris does not support this. He ended up getting touchdown for now, it supports that functionality.
So apparently the mail.apk from the magic is a newer/more advanced version of the email application than what's on the Eris. I tried to convince him to overwrite what is on there with the magic's version, but he doesn't want to screw up his phone. If it were me I'd do it, there is a hard reset function, right?