While this might be true, iPhoneDrive is superb. Not only does it let you use the iPhone or iPod touch to transfer files onto (or get them off of), but it also shows you all your music and photos contained on the device in a finder-like interface. You can copy the tracks from the device to your desktop by clicking a button or dragging and dropping.
And yes, while you need it installed on the computer you're using, if you have an internet connection, you could always keep the app in your email account and download it. Or, since when you buy the software it's tied to your email account, you can actually just keep the link in your email, click it and download the software directly from the developer page.
Personally, I use it so that I can keep another backup of my important files. I could care less whether my buddy can access my iPod touch files on his machine.