That is interesting indeed. The thing I like aboot the old Ipods are no big screen, no need for dumb tiling of album covers etc etc...just stripped down and they work. Of course Apple is the worst goddamn company in the world and I do despise everything they make now.
Cons : This looks like a nice player although if that's the volume control on the side that;s not a good place for it...unless you can lock it somehow. I'm also more used to using my phone now (and you don;t have to use Itunes)...but as you say this is for a bump up in quality.
Good link.

Dare to dream!

And an 8 disk drive

No promises