Julf, before seamless iPod integration, I could see the merit of this system (and the competitors). Do you still feel they offer the same benefit when nearly all good quality head units offer iPod links (and you can use FLAC files)?
Simon, we are reaching the point (mostly as a function of the price/capacity curve of flash memory) where the empeg is getting obsolete (after 10 years!), but it's user interface and features are still far superior to the iPod (or anything I can buy today).
And yes, there are versions of it's software to do ogg and FLAC, but with FLAC you spin up the hard disk(s) all the time.