Steve, Chico, and Traveller,
Steve, and Chico, your comments have clarified my problems vis a vis playlists.
Traveller, I bought NOTMAD. It allows FILES to go back and forth between NJ3 and PC very well and fast over firewire--70 songs in about 2.5 minutes--I'm happy with that for now.
Nomad rules for editing playlists on fly. However, dure to what we discussed, I have to then select the song names/files on PC guided by playlist on nomad. A pain, but not a deal killer.
I can delete songs from an 'album' on the nomad3, then rename album folders, drag and drop with NOTMAD or playcenter (Creative should wisen up and license NOTMAD and MJ--their software makes them look stupid, as does their tech support I have spoken to so far).
The navigation and selection and editing features are super on Nomad. I do not believe in and of itself, anything out there competes with the abilities of the jog dial (don't know about iPOD)
Finallly, while the NOTMAD sounds great on my Senheisser 580s--better than Archos Juke 6000, NEO Jukebox (which sucked, really)and iROCK (which is not half bad for $110 with 128 MB of internal memory and enabled with slot for SM card for 128MB more--iRock is also sweet to use and small and light--almost like Sammy's 'YEP'.).
Traveller, I intend to do some AB comparison on my main surround sound system with my 12 year son whose ears I am almost done tuning--he is pretty good. I'll let you know. Out of abount 1000 CNET revierers, 96% give NJ# a thumbs up. I almost NEVER see such a thumbs up. I give it one too. I heear, however, that the Archos Studio Recorder has a more 'mellow midrange' sound--and--has optical out as well. Very nice and I may try and compare.
Lastly, Steve, you are the only gentleman and scholar I have encountered in Tech Support amongst companies--even if by email. Everyone else (Red Chair, Creative) went either "Huh" to my questions or said I should have no problem moving playsilsts per se back and forth. At creative, the 'level 1' tech did not know what 'burning' means until I explained!!!