>When the telephone and telegraph came around did we suddenly stop hiring people because we could check their references without so much as lifting a hand to dial the number or send a telegram?
I don't understand how this is as dangerous as online records.
There's no technical reason to prevent people from getting music back off their devices. So the assumption is it was part of the DRM requirements that Steve Jobs claims the record labels forced him to accept.
Maybe not the regular iPhone apps, but there are many opportunities for apps like alternate streaming services or games (apple can release a wii remote like device) or facetime enabled video conferencing etc.
Broadly-implemented standards are like paved roads. They help the industry move forward together. But before you can pave a road, someone needs to blaze a trail.
