NO hacking was needed, because an iPod will play any MP3 transparently, with no problem at all.
And the 200 files you got from Apple iTunes? What non iPod players do they play on?
Send me one to play on my Linux system, running Amarok.
There are two independent issues here, and I'm not addressing yours. If Apple wants to restrict their on-line music store to iPod users, that's their business, not mine.
I always strip the DRM scheme in any case.