Originally Posted by
ncwillett
It's irrelevant, as the OP would have to claim his bags for customs anyway.
That is not 100% correct. If the bags are not thru checked, and the pax arrives in E, the bags will go to F customs. If they are thru checked, they go to E customs.
How that effects the timeline can be variable. Might actually be better to walk to F so as to avoid the somewhat iffy E security (I have never had an issue, but it has been reported enough that I presume it to be true). If that is true, NOT thru checking could be better.
OP, you probably are fine. The only time I had a tight I->D connection at ATL, after landing a couple minutes late I had time to hit the Sky Club for a drink, But there is always risk.
EDIT: OP, on your question about groundside transit, that is no issue. At either E or F you will reclear TSA immeditaly and be airside where the airport is fully connected.