I have an iPod, and I'd recommend one.
The headphones I got with mine gave a really crap shitty quality, so I wrote to apple by email and complained. Within 2 days, they sent a brand new pair through my door. Some cool in-ear ones with rubbery ends. The type that stick right down your ear - and they're much better quality.
From personal experience, they are well built. If you're gonna treat it like crap, it might get damaged. But, the first day I got mine, I handed it to my girlfriend... who dropped it on the concrete floor. It got a slight pin-hole scratch in the screen, but it isnt noticable (unless you're looking for it).
I'm using it with a mac, and using iTunes and have had no problems importing and exporting songs on and off it. I never use the music store - and dont have access to it, as its US Only. Around 20% of my albums are downloaded off the net, and go on and play on the iPod perfectly.
Okay, iPods are overhyped, but they're still very good.
Price-wise, they are expensive. But, because of the daft exchange rate between the UK and America, you can pick on up there for around 60% of the price of what you'd find one in the UK. The only problem would be importing it. US Retailers aren't allowed to export them to the UK. You'd have to know someone who'll bring one back from the US with them, or trust someone off the net enough to buy you one, and mail it privately (ie, not the retailer sending it).
The only downside I know of is that the built-in battery only lasts around 15months. The warrenty only lasts 12. So, to get a new one, you have to contact Apple - the batteries aren't that expensive - but, unless you're trained, you can't put it into the iPod without destroying it. So it ends up costing you around £250 to buy and get Apple to replace your battery.
I'd say its a good piece of kit all in all though, and nicely presented.
But, I'm not arguing the fact that there's probably better kit out there at a cheaper price...
...just I havent found it yet.
