Well, since we're so far off whatever topic this was when it started:

I have music on my iPods that I purchased online from several sources other than iTunes and it all plays just fine. The iPod supports AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, WAV, and AIFF.

The Zune supports MP3, AAC, Zune Marketplace (Protected and DRM free), WMA Pro (2-channel), WMA Standard, WMA lossless for audio.

The Creative ZEN works with MP3 and WMA, and some models support WAV and Audible files. They are Plays-for-Sure certified, at least up until the point that Microsoft screwed them by releasing the proprietary Zune.

If you don't like iTunes, have you tried the Windows Embedded platform on the Zune linked to the Zune Marketplace? Now there's a locked down POS.

A player like the ZEN is a viable alternative to an iPod if you like the software that supports it, and don't mind having to choose from a number of second-rate music services.

Aside from iTunes, the only services I buy from are eMusic for its great prices and very eclectic mix of independent and unusual music, and from trance-mix. Music from both sites works seamlessly with my iPods. The other services I've demoed just suck, IMO, so why would I care if they're easy or hard to use or how many of them there are?

I can burn every single track I own on a disc and play it in any player I have. I can also convert tracks to MP3 or WAV or AIFF and load them on any player that supports those formats.

People have voted with their business, and the results are decisive. This may change in the future, and if it does, who cares? For now, if you want to be an independent, trailblazing, choose-your-own-path kind of guy, that's cool. When the day comes that Apple falls, you can be in the conga line of I-told-you-so people celebrating its demise.

In the meantime, there's no need to exaggerate the alleged flaws of one product and completely overlook the limitations and closed nature of other products.