metaclass variable resolution behavior

gistfile1.txt

>>> class A(type):
...    @property
...    def a(cls): return 4
...
>>> class B1(object):
...    __metaclass__ = A
...    a = 3
...
>>> B1.a
4

>>> class C(type):
...    a = 2
...
>>> class D(object):
...    __metaclass__ = C
...    a = 1
...
>>> D.a
1


>>> class E(object):
...    @property
...    def e(self): return 2
...
>>> E.e
<property object at 0x02371570>
>>> e = E()
>>> e.e = 1
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "<stdin>", line 1, in <module>
AttributeError: can't set attribute
>>> e.__dict__['e'] = 1
>>> e.e
2

An instant modern classic PDW, in my opinion.