You're absolutely right, and I understand all of those points, and, in fact, I use that methodology on occasion, but it seems that every time that anyone suggests this, it's as if it's the answer to all of my problems. The problem as I see it is now you've transferred the ``power'' from the cocaine-swilling Los Angeles DJs to the money-hungry music retailers, and there's as much corruption in both places.

Oh, and as to Sheryl Crow and Liz Phair, if you like Sheryl Crow, I imagine that you'll like Liz Phair as well, since except for her (I assume) first album (the one with Santa Monica Boulevard or whatever that song was entitled), Sheryl pretty much ripped off Liz's sound and polished it up a little. Take a listen.