That is not how it works on my model. Which model are you talking about?
It's funny you mentioned the cover, because broken battery covers are a very common Nomad complaint -- a problem the iPod cannot have due to its design.
There are many devices in the product like. Many of the models have differant form factors - some better than others. For which model of Nomad did you see the complaints?
Please provide some supporting evidence.
You read the iPod boards, I read the Creative boards and buyer comments at various online stores. As with iPod battery life, YMMV. Most battery covers haven't broken, just as most iPods are playing on their original battery. But FYI, I found such comments for the Muvo and Zen. Some are reporting the cover broken within days of purchase, others suggest keeping it in a leather carrier to protect the cover. "Flimsy" is the word I most often read.
Of course warranty would cover this as it does an iPod battery. But post-warranty I think I'd rather have to open my iPod to replace the battery than slap duct tape on my Nomad to keep the battery cover closed.