This is specifically aimed at the DOLTS who apparently fail to understand how to ooperate the VOLUME CONTROL that is standard on every single iPod. Nanny stateism.
Actually, it's a convienent way to make sure you don't accidentally blast the volume up to a point louder than you really want it. I can't tell you how many times I've tried turning up the volume during an unexpectedly soft section only to get my ears blasted when something loud kicks in.
If anything, it is specifically aimed at warding off further frivolous lawsuits. If we, the users, get an additional feature for free, why complain?
I wear my iPod on my belt. Just this morning the volume was turned all the way up when my seatbelt triggered the control on accident. This is a good feature. I could have been in an accident, eh?
It appears to be optional, so it's hardly "nanny stateism." Nothing wrong with a free extra feature. Unlike the iPods sold in Europe, which are all volume limited. But of course there's software available to bypass that control.