The customs fee is not a big deal I think. It's normal that europeans (and others too) have to pay a VAT. In Germany it is 19% plus about 12,50 EUR that DHL takes for pre-paying the VAT. You can make a contract with DHL in Germany to allow them to charge the VAT directly from your bank account. Then you don't have to pay the extra DHL fee of about 12,50 EUR but sometimes DHL does not accept privat people for this contract.
A big German test gear seller has offer to the re-shipping for me inside the EU.
They offer good internal postage rates, but there is no way to avoid the 19% German VAT, regardless of whether the meter is ultimately shipped within Germany outside of it.
I obviously cannot absorb a 19% VAT fee, so this would have to be an additional fee I charge backers in the EU
The advantage is that there should be zero customs hassles to the backer because it would be shipped internal in the EU via DHL.
I am contemplating giving people the option in the Kickstarter survey whether they want to pay the extra 19% VAT and get it quickly no hassles, or pay nothing extra up-front and "take their chances" via direct shipment into the EU. Opinions on this please...