The task in this case is simply analyzing, indexing and serving their tunes... which iTunes does quite well. I'd love to find a Linux equivalent that handles the smart playlists, cover art, ratings and syncing options, but I don't think it exists. Songbird is close, but they blew it when they changed the API for all of the plugins.

I wonder if iTunes will come up with a way to sync over wifi - even to a non-iPod. That would (literally) rock.