FFS, this is exactly the kind of discussion I had hoped not to provoke.
iTunes is absolutely brilliant for the majority of people who are amateur home computer users and who lack the confidence or knowledge to "freelance". It is simply not realistic to expect ordinary users to nerd around moving files about. The software is easy to use and the iPods are stunning - my son's new Nano is unbelievably better than my 2 y.o. model. iTunes has revolutionised home recording and it gives us and many other people, I'm sure, a lot of fun and entertainment.
But as soon as you mention iTunes along come the intellectually conceited clever dicks who flippantly dismiss as rubbish something that works fine for THE MAJORITY of people.
Bugger off and play with yourselves!