[DoIFeelLucky]

I don't have a problem with the mp3 format for personal use. I try to keep abreast of LAME developments, and LAME's variable bitrate (VBR) presets are all I use when encoding something to mp3 (using foobar2000, like brimstone said).

My problem is with the iPod. Yeah, great storage, durability, compatibility, all these things are great. iTunes even has what many people in the know call the best AAC encoder around (and it's free). But neither iTunes nor the iPod are capable of gapless playback. I listen mainly to shows like Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin, for which gapless playback is a must for an enjoyable concert experience. Can't do that on an iPod, unless you encode an entire concert to a single mp3 file.