I don't think it's legal in the UK to rip your own CDs onto your own iPod. I think the law thinks you have a CD at the discretion of the record company/artist. Whilst you've paid for it, they can still say what you are and aren't allowed to do with it.
And what on earth is 'restrictive' about Apple's DRM? Buy from iTunes, copy to CD, put back in computer, hello mp3s that'll play on just about anything.
And if Apple was 'propping them up', why would the record companies be trying to shoot themselves in the foot by squealing about wanting a better deal from iTunes? Apple has brought them kicking and screaming into the 21st C, and they still think it's the mid '70's.
You really should do some demographic projections on where the potential 2,000,000 Zune idiots, sorry 'owners', live. Then calculate the likelihood of:
A. Them having a friend nearby that they can beam, sorry 'Zune' a song to (for three days).
B. How far away from them the nearest potential Zune friend is. How many miles they'd have to travel and how much time this will take and how much in travel expenses this might cost.
And/Or:
C. The likelihood of them having a friend at all - as they're Xbox people and probably don't see daylight, or other humans (pizza delivery person aside), all that often.
You're not the only one, I use Backup.
I've not had to call upon it as yet...though clearly now I've written that my computer will go phutt! as soon as I finish tying.
But hey! I backed up with Backup, Wednesday @ 10.00pm!
I pledge as above.
I will never ever, ever (ever) boot Windows on my Mac. I will never ever even use Windows on someone else's Mac. Or PC. Now and forever. Amen.
Don't do it kids - it makes you dirty.
Universal Calls MP3 Users Thieves
Zune Marketplace's Absurd Pricing Scheme
A Legitimate Reason to Hate the Zune (And Microsoft Too)
Review: Apple's Backup
Take the No Windows-Booting Pledge