The only plastic that is kewl is the plastic I'm using to buy more digital content!

Oh Rob, yer such an old skool hippie.

Did you just suggest people buy a CD, rip it and then sell it on ebay?

The reason why people want it in these formats is so they can watch it in other places where a TV isn't handy (planes, subway, gym, etc.)

True, Rob. I have a nice mix of uploaded and downloaded music myself. I actually had a young colleague say to me, "not that you're a dinosaur, but do you really still buy CDs?" (check it: I'm 43). But here's where I go nuts. I buy a CD. I download it to my library. All's cool so far. Then the hiccup: I have to switch computers because my hard drive died. It's fine though, I backed it up. But Real Player/Rhapsody/iTunes -- you name it -- don't recognize my "rights" to the music I already own on CD, and demand that I purchase the songs. I can't play them unless I find and re-import the CD. Does that make any sense?

A uniform standard would be smart, else dinosaurs like me might start casting longing glances at the dark side..

I can do it all at 66. Burn, rip. buy cd's, use
XM, etc. But by far the best solution is still radio to audio cassette. It is a perfect, cheap, foolproof, easily reproduced method. On a good car or hi-fi stereo the sound is good enough for most people. The only competitor to me is Slacker web radio, which will be a revolution if their portable player pans out.