Re batteries;
Seriously, it's not an issue. The iPod battery can be replaced (as I'm sure the iRiver one can). See Kurtster's post above.
There are detailed instructions here (http://www.ipodbattery.com/ipodinstall.htm) and customer reviews here (http://www.smalldog.com/product/46814)

msenkbeil, i'm very interested into getting an iriver hp140 and that deal you found on amazon is mind blowing. can you send me the link where you found the deal? i'm going to buy an mp3 player tomorrow and if that's true, i will prolly get that.

TIA

alen