Guys,
Apple nailed it.

There's actually some nicely pounding bass!

I've started listening some music straight from my iPod Classic with these new EarPod-things: I've randomly picked up
Old Flame by Kimbra and... I couldn't believe my ears!
After enjoying the entire album, I've started an A/B test with other earbuds I own (while playing other tracks from 256kbps MP3s and 256kbps AAC to lossless ALACs): the most recent iBuds with in-line mic couldn't stand a chance, these excellent EarPods represent quite an improvement.

I've found that they deliver the punchy bass of my IEMs while avoiding to sound so much congested, they are quite balanced and captivating (keep in mind that I own nameless/worthless IEMs).
These are extremely efficient buds, better keep low volume levels with these nasty phones in your ears.
Right now I'm enjoyng Goldfrapp's
Felt Mountain on my Xperia S while toying with the stock player's EQ. I didn't know earbuds could sound this good and they actually sound better then the "good sounding" Xperia's OEM in-ear phones.
Do I think these are worth $30/30€? Well... They impressed me, so this must be a "yes". :P
More info to come as this weekend I'll have to put on severe burn-in the beautiful HK CLs.

PS: nice housing, btw (it will be impossibile to put them back in, though). XP