Bipartite shuffle is one of those great features that works so well that nobody even knows it exists.

Indeed.

Remind me: isn't this great feature one that made it into the player software only after some prodding from the BBS populace (the only means of randomizing the content previously being a static playlist property flag)?

One of many reasons empeg is such a marvelous product is that people at empeg towers actually listen to their user base. I keep wondering what the world (at leat technological aspect of it) would look like if Hugo & Co's competence, attitude and dedication were the norm rather than sorely rare exception. But then, somebody has to be the best...