I loved my first generation iPod Nano. It was such a beautiful little thing.
Edit: this will have to do! https://web.archive.org/web/20060529192323/http://www.apple....
Slap a DAC, BT5 connectivity with aptX, and 1TB+ SSD in one of those and I'd buy one.
Honestly, battery life on modern phones doesn't lend well to them playing a full-time second role as a music player. This is what you'd want on a camping trip. Maybe there's a nascent market here
Now we have a single device that solves all three and more (e.g., biometrics) in albeit a least common denominator sorta way. A single form can't expect to complete with specialists.
I prefer a crap device that I use for comms (phone and SMS), and a second device with a better camera and more storage for media that only connects via wifi. There are plenty of instances I want a camera and/or music (often without even wifi) but not the temptation of being full connected.