people who know no better than to buy a shitty machine just because it is popular
The problem with this argument is that the IT directors of many, if not
most, major (ie, Ivy League, or nearly Ivy Leage) universities in US are working on projects (or have established projects) to use MP3 players for distance learning.
The format they're most often using for their podcasts? iTunes.
What type of player plays iTunes? iPods.
Now, I know that you're going to cite some obscure bit of technical data to try and explain why all these Ivy league types are stupid, but it still boils down to you trying to personalize a particular purchase beyond all reason and into a level of emotion that just really isn't worth it.
The market has spoken and the iPod is king. You're just going to have to accept it.
