Don't forget Podcasting isn't intended to be competiton for super-high quality media such as SACD and DVD-A, or even good cd. Podcasting, like all radio, is CONTENT driven! I've yet to hear anybody say "Did you hear Limbaugh/Franken/Stern today? Wasn't the audio FANTASTIC?" It's about the CONTENT. Audio quality is analogous to paper in printed media. YES the print quality of Playboy (or Sports Illustrated) is far better than a newspaper, but that sure as hell doesn't diminish the CONTENT in the NY Times! Once the quality is "good enough" (to not be a factor for the vast majority of the intended audience), then CONTENT is all that matters!
I listen to TONS of radio...from shortwave (sometimes fascinating content, HORRID audio), to XM Satellite (sometimes decent audio, sometimes awful, usually just good enough), to internet radio (some of it SHOCKINGLY good...try Yahoo Music Engine's streaming services at 192kbps Windows Media 9! It's astounding). There's even a university station or two "Shoutcasting" UNCOMPRESSED audio over the 'net, at 1,400kbps! LOL! I hope they've got plenty of bandwidth if they hope to have more than three or four listeners!
Today's photo gear is light-years ahead of that from a generation or two ago. Does this fact detract from our fascination for classic images from our past? IT'S CONTENT, BABY!