As much as I hate Apple (random not real reasons), I love my iPod and I can't imagine life without it. I use it at the gym for music when I'm doing weights and video when I'm doing cardio, it goes with me to work, and I got a hookup for it for my car. There are of course things I despise about iTunes but there are things I despise about every media device.
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iPods are also fairly durable in that I've dropped mine many many times all sorts of hard surfaces and other than being slightly scuffed up it's fine. Though like any media device like that, I would definately advise getting the warrantly and conveniently destroying your device slightly before the warranty is up.