You point out the importance of the empeg UI. This is absolutely one of the biggest arguments in favor of the empeg over virtually any other in-car solution. All things considered, it just works.

In the modern world, I'd say the real competition to place against an empeg is one or another form of iPod integration, particularly when it's supported by the car manufacturer directly. An iPod is much easier to toss in your pocket than an empeg, and you can get a 60GB iPod today (probably 80GB real soon). That's enough space for many people's needs (maybe not Paul Grzelak...).

The other competition for an empeg isn't a hard drive-based system. It's XM or Sirius satellite. Yeah, you have to pay a monthly service fee and despite the millions of channels, none of them are exactly what you're looking for, but they can be good enough for many people's needs, and are surprisingly well integrated in a number of cars as well as aftermarket headunits.

Ultimately, it boils down to your own preferences as well as issues beyond your control, like whether it's physically possible to replace the factory stereo without re-engineering your car (e.g., if your A/C controller shares a chassis with your stereo).

(And, for what it's worth, I'm totally with Bitt. If you've got an empeg, don't sell it. If nothing else, it makes for a fine home stereo component.)