Apple Ipod/Itunes: a love and deep hatred relationship. How we must DEMAND MORE

My dad's 80GB Ipod Classic is somewhat broke (yeah, 80 GB, we do it big around here). The Ipod got messed up when I updated my Itunes and for some reason Itunes decided it was going to fuck up a lot of people's Ipod Classics. Now Itunes wont recognize the Ipod (while Windows Explorer recognizes it), so now I can't add/remove any music. Now, I can't put new music on his Ipod, because of ITUNES, and Apple wants me to pay to talk to customer service. I don't know if other people think this way but if I'm going to spend $150+ on an MP3 player I want it to not be broken by the software I'm required to use it with. Apple wants us to have to buy a new ipod every 2+ years and hopes we'll just get used to them breaking out of warranty and having to repeat the process. IPODS should last 10+ years, battery replacements necessary of course.
My complaints against Apple/Itunes/Ipod:

• Little to no customer service after warranty expires.
• Itunes has messed up lots of Ipods (Especially Classics and Nano) and people have had to waste time trying to fix them and the problem still hasn't been fixed, and thats Apple's fault. I shouldn't have to get a new MP3 player because your required software is defective.
• Requiring users to use Itunes. I like certain things about Itunes (ex. I love podcasts), but Itunes takes up a lot of memory, and can make the computer operate slower. ALSO ON ITUNES YOU CAN'T TAKE MUSIC OFF A IPOD.

• Apple and their stores do not try to help police recover Ipods that are stolen, and usually wont help people who bring in a lost ipod get it to the owner who lost it. This isn't a huge deal, but Ipods are often stolen and or lost, and there's little you can do once its stolen or lost.

My praises for Apple/Itunes/Ipod:

• Podcasts. I love the variety of podcasts available on Itunes and the internet. I think podcasts have really played a role in Apple separating the Ipod from other MP3 players. Podcasts are free! Also many radi0 stations now make shows available as podcasts.
• Ipod simplicity. The Ipod is easy to use, small, and light.
• I can put videos (TV, Movies, Sports, or any video) onto my ipod and watch them on the TV with just a cheap cable from eBay. This is so useful.

Ipad: my thoughts (Ibad)

The Ipad just recently came out. If you haven't seen an ipad on the news or television its a oversized Ipod touch. One thing is for sure: people probably won't lose this.

(side note: Why do I feel like before Apple released the Ipod, Apple had a marketing meeting that went something like "You guys, sales are down, were losing our customer base. We need a new marketing gimmick, Something thats short and simple. and someone raised their hand and said "we could add the letter i to our product names". Does apple own the letter I now.

The letter I: Apple's plan to take down Windows)

I've never used a Ipad (hell, I've never used an iphone, or itouch) but I already hate the ipad and i hope no one buys it except old people who would lose a itouch.

The Ipad in my belief has a hidden agenda: Itunes intend to control the market of digital books. The one thing the Ipad looks usefull is reading books, newspapers, or magazines. I'm sure Apple is going to try to corner those markets so it can make people buy books through Itunes to read on their Ipad. Itunes is Apples secret way of trying to profit off of everything we would download. Its so annoying downloading something on Itunes. You can only put it on x amounts of ipods, can only be on one computer. I'd rather just download stuff for free (illegally) then deal with Itunes annoying digital rights management crap.

I hate Itunes. Its not a good program, its a store, disguised as a media management program. Its uses so much memory. I could keep going on but I will player hate on Itunes some other time (Itunes, Don't think you've been let off this easy)

I would only get an Ipad if my parents were turning 60-70 because you know damn well they would lose an Itouch. The Ipad should only be purchased for the elderly, or people who want to waste money.