>> you can access the storage without having to install propriatery software on your computer. I was also a fan when they almost all played from a file system,

>> you can access the storage without having to install propriatery software on your computer. I was also a fan when they almost all played from a file system, but even 10+ years ago it was harder and harder to find something that didn't require a store or some terrible music management application. Streaming continues to kill this approach as well. My kids don't know what an mp3 is.