> outrageously priced MP3 players

Like the best Apple designs, the iPod redefined its product category. And it put Apple back on track for ARM-based mobile devices.

> There’s no way people were stocking those things with music they paid for

Indeed. But you could also rip physical CDs, and the iTunes store managed to sell a lot of 99 cent song downloads, as it was legal, easier than messing with file sharing, and cheaper than buying a whole CD just for a single song.

Arguably the music industry messed up greatly by not making CD singles cheap and ubiquitous (and solving issues with 3" CDs in slot-loading car players, etc.)

This is exactly what happens when a reverse salient collapses and opens up a new channel of distribution.

> no wireless. less space than a nomad. outrageously expensive

Mostly, yeah. My dad, brothers, and I (all one household) had probably 200 CDs between us that we ripped and listened to repeatedly. Paid once per person? Doubtful, but yes, we paid.