[JohnTHaller]

The 'mess around' process would just mean loading your existing music into Google Music one time. Heck, on a Mac, it may just ask by default if you want to sync your iTunes library. Then they're available everywhere you run Google Music... which means not being artificially locked to a single company's hardware.

Most people make the mistake to think they 'bought' a movie or DRMed music file when they really just rent/lease it long term.. And then they realize they're screwed when they want to the freedom to buy whatever device they want and have 'their' music they 'bought' on it. After all, most people didn't grow up buying a CD from Best Buy and having it work on their Best Buy CD player but not on their Sony CD player.

You may have realized what you bought into and consciously made the decision that you accepted the limitation in rights/etc in exchange for convenience/etc, but most average consumers do not.