1. You can drag and drop music on an iPod.

2. There is NO problem with using the iPod as storage for music AND data and has NOTHING to do with your failure. More likely you didn't unmount the iPod drive before you disconnected it from your Windoze box.

3. HOW songs are ripped controls if the tags are included.

4. Sure, you can hook up any other MP3 players with an 1/8" mini jack to many stereo aux inputs but that it analog data most certainly distorted by the simple amp circuits in the player - the iPod provides digital out via it's connector.

5. Finding music on your hard drive has to do with the way it was ripped and stored, NOT the fault of iTunes.