iTunes are very good and easy to use (must be if i can use it)
i don't buy from them but use them for putting my CDs Audio books etc on my ipod, not to mention the free podcasts etc
it says in that wiki "please also note that due to changes in the new iPod firmware, only iTunes works with new iPods (although gtkpod developers have developed a workaround".
i must say i don't know people who don't want to use itunes buy ipods. ipod and itunes seems to be a package deal and there are plenty of other similar players that don't require itunes.
I use MediaMonkey to manage several music players at once now (inlcuding my wifes two iPods - 5th gen video being the newest of them but I believe it supports the latest classics - not sure about the touch, think it's still a work in progress). Lovely piece of software. iTunes seems horrible on the rare occasion I have to use it to sort something on my wifes iPod. (MediaMonkey doesn't do video)
Still use drag'n'drop a lot with my main player .... it's just so simple (and convenient). But, if I do a total refresh of all music on it, a quick re-sync can be handy.