Alright, perhaps I was harsh on the iPod socks - they provide minimal protection, have good aesthetics and do not make the iPod more cumbersome to handle. This contraption, on the other hand, is completely useless once the "gimmick" wears off. Glancing at it one might think, "Oh, that's neat." But can you imagine using this daily with your iPod? I suppose it might make a good gag gift for someone who is completely addicted to their iPod, but for $35? That's 1/3 of the way towards buying a 512 MB Shuffle, which is a far better companion for an iPod.