The iPod and its hype are great for Apple and for the Mac platform--especially in creating a long-term brand that will make people consider Macs when they next replace their computer.
The benefits are obvious, while the many who say the iPod hurts the Mac never seem to offer real reasons.
Do they think the iPod takes people and dollars away from Mac advertising and development? Of course not--the iPod pays for itself AND its ads AND its developers AND makes a profit on top of that. Apple has no need to pull resources away from Mac projects, and the zillion things they're doing to advance the Mac platform are evidence of that. (Tiger, GarageBand, iMac G5, AirPort Express, XGrid, Xserve, XRaid, QuickTime, etc. etc.)
If you wish Apple advertised the Mac more, or differently, that's ancient news, not some negative effect of the iPod. I'd guess Apple's waiting for a single BIG splash with Tiger and new G5s next year. Meanwhile the Mac platform will continue to get more attention--not less--due to the iPod.
People who wish the iPod was less successful, or who wish that success were glossed over by Apple news sites, can minimize the pain by not clicking stories with "iPod" in the title
PS, my favorite part of the Amazon iPod store (confirmed with links by AI) is the "top 5 best-selling iPod Minis"... I wonder which ones those are today?