Ok, this device is even cooler that I thought it could be:
1. It comes with a couple year old copy of the CDDB inside. Supposedly, once I actually bother to connect it to something, the newish firmware has an update to the CDDB too.
2. If it can't connect to the internet, it defers tagging new MP3s until it can connect (I think?)
3. If it has trouble making MP3s, instead of ejecting the CD, it says there was trouble. If you eject the CD and insert it again, it tries ONLY THE TRACKS THAT FAILED LAST TIME.

Whoa.

-brendan