Ipod Dock with direct out?????

>>This all seems like an awful lot of money and trouble to end up with something that a good music server could do for a lot less money.

I guess it depends on your situation. I WAS using a SB3 but with the iTransport I can have a high end, 160 GB music server in my main system with a high end DAC. I can also unplug this from the iTransport and listen in my car. I can also listen anywhere with my headphones. Lastly, I have a system in my backyard by my pool with outdoor speakers. I plug the ipod in and it sounds amazing. The iTransport allows me to consolidate my portable music library while also providing high end sound in my main rig. WIN WIN.

"Why does it no longer become portable? You just pull it off the iTransport, plug in your headphones and away you go!"
I realise that - I have a Nano for portable listening at work etc, where sound quality isn't critical.
I suppose you only have to rip everything once if you use the iPod for portable and home listening, but some of the comments above make it sound like a lot of headaches to get it right.
That's why a music server that can rip and burn CD's, store heaps on it's HDD, play various file formats and link wirelessly to your computer sounds so convenient to my not-so-informed mind.
But at the end of the day it comes down to personal choice; I still like CD's at home with their little booklets!

some of the comments above make it sound like a lot of headaches to get it right.

I don't see where it would be any different than the way you load your Nano; obviously for higher quality you would chose Apple Lossless, WAV, etc., which I assume you don't use. No headaches, very straightforward, especially if you use the SYNC option on the iTunes/iPod.

Brian, I think we have our wires crossed. The CD-PC-Ipod chain is the easy bit.
My comments about the "headaches" are more referring to the subsequent use of the iPod as a high grade source by spending $$$ on devices like the Wadia, which it seems isn't even fully compatible with more recent iPods and has questionable build quality (ref Uclaid's comments).
All that said, this isn't an area I know a lot about, but am certainly interested in.

$379 doesn't seem expensive to me considering the overall prices within this hobby. Adding a device such as the iTransport to use use an iPod doesn't come across to me as a "headache", quite the opposite; it allows people to merge their portable with their home stereo, and adding a server type source as well, which appeals to me, the portable part is just a bonus for me. :)

As for build quality, I already addressed that I feel just the opposite as Uclaids, I think it is excellent.

As you probably know, iPod's come in many forms and it seems they all work differently. For me, my iPod and iTransport work together perfectly, others have complaints as documented above. But it appears by Uclaids own admission that he purchased the iTransport "blindly". Before I placed an order I contacted Wadia, several times, and they were more than gracious in addressing my questions. The fact that Uclaids iPod doesn't mate to the iTransport the way he would like may have been addressed before he placed an order, then again maybe he did, I can't say.

Not all products are for all people, but the iTransport is all I hoped from first reading about it and Wadia has been great to deal with.