You don't have to use iTunes. You can use ephpod to take the music off of someone elses iPod and put it on your own (or vise versa). Ephpod basically owns iTunes. Anyways I will take the iPod's touch sensitive wheel interface anyday over the other crap I have used (gave away my Creative Zen 20 gig). I don't burn/rip songs with iTunes anyways, also I torrent most music. Artists get jack off of record sales, they make the real money off of touring. That is why I actually go to shows of bands that perform on real instruments live (not electronic). I have had my iPod for 2 years with zero problems, A coworker of mine has had her iPod for almost 5 years. I have had no problems adding shit to my iPod, video does need to be converted to fit on the small screen obviously.
Microsoft and Apple stole the idea of a GUI OS from Xerox anyways. I will run Linux the day it supports the most current version of DirectX games, otherwise it is useless to me. Otherwise it is just good to put on a box for the hell of it. I had a Solarys UNIX PC box a long time ago haha.