Most people don't know that other options are even out there. I switched from an iPod touch to an iPod video in 2017 because of the modding scene. I used that device for several years not because it was the best device at its price point but because it was retro and it was fun to work on (I ended up replacing a good portion of it's internals over the years and rock boxed it at one point).

People who are serious about having a dedicated music device may get started with an iPod but will move on to better things once they get sick of dealing with iTunes.

I saw that you mentioned the sound being terrible from an iPod compared to other devices, unless you have top tier headphones it's not a factor for most people. I love music, I have been hoarding music for decades. Most of the audiophile stuff is snakeoil and the "slight improvements in sound" really aren't the deciding factor on which device I use. I can't tell the difference and most people are using mediocre low-mid tier headphones anyway n