My $.02 about icons:
I think that attention should be given to icons inside MC as well as icons outside. In my perfect world, we'd have:
1. Four icons to use for associated files, so that when browsing through windows explorer, there would be a different icon for each type of file: audio, video, playlist, and image.
Edit -- here's the important part that would require a bit more tweaking. Last time I checked, and I apologize if it's already different, EVERYTHING is a "MediaJukebox.file" and all have the same icon. I'd much rather have MC make distinctions between the four above-mentioned filetypes, not only through the icon that it uses, but for the filetype descriptor. This is essential when you want to sort an explorer window by filetype... "MediaJukebox.file" just doesn't cut it, IMHO. 2. Relevant tree icons within MC itself, the way it used to be. Different icons for artists, albums, songs, playlists, video files, images, genres, tv channels/video inputs, etc etc etc.
3. A new icon for the program itself. The orange jukebox has great nostalgia value, but I definitely think it's time to get pretty with it. Since it's a media center now, maybe an icon that represents all types of media coming together dynamically. An icon that suggests integration... fluidity... synergy through all types of media.
The external icons would, as hoehater suggested, be able to take advantage of xp's abilities; 32-bit, scalable, and so on. I definitely think it's time to take these icons to the next level, much like you have done for the "x days left till expiration" splash screen (which looks great, btw).
I'm not an artist. I can do a mean stick-figure man, but that's about it. But there's my ideas, if you want em.
BTW, I really like the direction that hoehater is going... don't forget about an icon for playlists files though.