Can I use Windows Media Player to sync songs onto my ipod instead of Itunes? Also, will i be able to download songs from "other" sites except Itunes and still play them on my ipod?

You can use Music from wherever as long as it's not DRM protected. Re WMP it doesn't support for free but if you really want you can download software that will allow this.

Despite some hanging problems iTunes is pretty much up to the task.