[sweetspot]

As a Linux only user now, Apple have alienated themselves from the market I represent. This not only bothers me on a moral level, but on a personal one as well. As long as their famed iTunes software is running the show, their lack of respect for anyone not wanting to comply with their software standards will be ever apparent.

I find it a shame too, considering that:

A. Being a fan of tech and gizmos and audio stuff in general, Apple tend to get not only the most press, but the largest nation wide release stock, and usually bury any type of competition in the process, and I find this unfair.

B. DAPs with similar specs or even better ones sometimes get the shaft and become unavailable at larger BnM stores, forcing us to look to the internet which can become an issue at times...

C. Sometimes Apple just puts out a really nice device, which the touch seems to be, but then goes and makes it untouchable for people who can't or won't use iTunes. Why should anyone be locked into using one piece of software ?

And no, I don't want to have to rely on either ROCKbox or some 12 year old to crack the firmware either...