For the record, I have an MZ-E501. I have an MD-MT821. My last two recorders were the N1 and the N707 (NetMD sucks). I have a DHC-MD595. I have a MDS-JE770. I had two actually, but one broke rather early and I've returned it for a credit against the MDS-JE780 which should be with me soon. And there's an IM-MT880 on the way. (I'm hedging my bets with NetMD, in case Sony wakes up and smells the coffee - but I'm not using those craptastic Sony portables for recording)
So I'm not exactly a non-MD user. But my main use for it is recording and uploading said recordings.
I also have a Sony D-CJ01.
The D-CJ01 gets used every time I want to hear my own CD's - be it in actual CD format or MP3's. Although I have the ability now to record titled MP3's at a speed comparable to a decent NetMD setup, thanks to the DHC-MD595 (Use Nero to burn MP3's with CD-TEXT titles on a CD-RW, stick in 595, and go), I rarely use it.
It's still too much hassle when I know I can burn 4.5 hours of SP-quality music onto one CD in 6 minutes (those CD's taking about 10 minutes to rip at the most in the first place at 320K) - which means I can put together compilations literally at the same time as brushing my teeth in the mornings. Plus there's no disc to swap for the entire day, and the D-CJ01 occupies less or the same amount of space than an MD player + 6-disc hard case. Sure, it's a bit heavier. But as a hassle-free way of enjoying high quality music, it rules. Until, that is, I get an iPod.
Here's a list of 'stuff MD has to do over the next 2 years for me to take it seriously' that I wrote elsewhere
a) Adopt high-capacity MD, which is already available (640MB).
b) Adopt option for no compression recording as well as SP and LP2/LP4.
c) High-speed upload capability for own recorded MD's - Block others by some means for copyright? I don't care.
d) Native MP3 support in firmware for NetMD downloaded material to dispense with ATRAC conversion time
e) More juice with Li-ion/Poly cell.
f) 3-4x present power amp with EQ.
g) Much faster transport mechanism to better match USB2.0 device transfer speeds and to further improve anti-skip
and of course:
h) full backwards compatibility
i) Below $350 (In 2004 $).