> Just because you don't like the fact that you can't download music from them without using their (very good, in my experience) music player doesn't mean it's useless or their strategy is broken.
Oh, I don't have any animus against the player. While I preferred lighter weight players that support more formats and are easier to customize, foobar, classic winamp, and amarok, Apple definitely made some gains in usability, simplifying the experience for the commodity consumer.
I love it when they compete on features, I'm just depressed and frustrated by any company that tries to win through lock in.
It's an old quote now, but it still lines up pretty well with my feelings: "The paradigm of competition is a race:by rewarding the winner, we encourage everyone to run faster. When capitalism really works this way, it does a good job; but its defenders are wrong in assuming it always works this way. If the runners forget why the reward is offered and become intent on winning, no matter how, they may find other strategies--such as, attacking other runners. If the runners get into a fist fight, they will all finish late."
I understand why companies do these things, just as I understand why people steal or commit fraud. I just wish they wouldn't, that's all.