All is cool...
I'd still like to know what I did, you can PM if you want to, I am one of the first to declare "My Bad" when it is.
I had a serious hate on for the X3 after that first firmware update, music locking up, that foolish spin wheel interface and the sound change. So I switched over to Mr. Trev's list theme which got rid of the Metro Style boxes. Still had the music lockups and they were so bad that I was either going to bift it at the wall or sell it. Well they were selling for $150 in the FS forum with free shipping so instead of taking a severe beating on it, I just threw it in the drawer and went back to my C3.
Firmware 3.0 was released so I installed that with Mr. Trev's theme again and no lockups... The X3 played without issue, the sound was better, UI is still the Schiit's but you can't expect much from a device that doesn't have enough buttons. Compared to a Sansa Clip+ with the Rockbox Interface, the proper amount of buttons and stuff just works as it should.
The SQ on the X3 is excellent, so back out it came and has been my primary player ever since.
You mentioned PRS getting dismissed, his main problem was the sound from the X3 and no equalizer. Well many tried to assist him with the sound issue to no avail, he claims the X3 just sounds bad to him. I was probably a bit curt with my suggestion of possibly the A&K to go with his $1K+ customs, but that was met with a, not paying that kind of money and it probably doesn't sound any better. Someone else suggested that he ask in the Miracles thread for player recommendations and he did.
The first reply, the very first reply was the AK240... So he just doesn't like the sound of the X3 and has possibly moved onto a DX90.
I know the angst you feel for a player that just doesn't work like it should, basic functions do not work like they should... Unfortunately it is a proprietary firmware as Rockbox in my opinion would fix this player. I can see once the X7 gets released and the X1 sales start to take off, the X3 will take a back seat to any fixes or improvements, possibly even abandoned... Back in the day I had my share of ATI video cards and Soundblaster card drivers getting abandoned... Hopefully not but I feel the X3 is FiiO's red headed step child.
So like it was mentioned earlier I see an iDevice in your future, or get a hold of FiiO and have them fix it, tracked shipping back to China would possibly not be feasible and a nice 160GB Classic might just be the better choice.
This was cranked out on my phone so ignore and formatting errors etc...