The fact that iTunes holds on so strongly is amazing to me because iTunes is such a piece of junk software. It installs about 3 programs or more on your computer, adds at least one startup entry and about 3 services, and takes up rediculous amounts of memory. Plus, everything is automated for you to the point of driving you crazy. Want your own filenaming/directory scheme for your MP3s? Don't let iTunes touch it! Then there's the fact that you purchase inferior quality music that's got DRM all over it! Why would anyone do that? There's AmazonMP3, Rhapsody, eMusic, etc. and they are all high-quality DRM-free MP3s!