Why Apple should not will not make an cheap iPod Flash

The idea that Apple can just slap the iPod brand on a low-capacity, low-cost player and “make it work” is backwards. The iPod isn’t popular because it’s cool — it’s cool because it’s so well-designed.
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Demand for lower-cost iPods exists. But, duh, demand for lower-cost everything exists. Perhaps you’d like to see a $15,000 BMW 3-series model, but you’re not going to get one.

http://daringfireball.net/2004/12/flash_gordon

[UPDATE] I insterted cheap in the title. I think this matches it closer.