don't think the battery costs over 50, the battery is a very small one and for just a little over a 100 you can get a laptop battery (around 1 lb verses only an ounce or 2 for the ipod battery)
But this subject is moot because there are also reports of original 5GB still going full steam. So maybe they got a bad battery? Batteries really can't be tested for longevity.
Originally posted by kidA it would be nice if it was $50, but the battery itself costs over $50. Li-Ion batteries are not cheap alkalines. they last a lot longer too.