HI Bob,
I have been using EaC with the FLAC plugin (same ting you are proposing), and rip CDs to FLAC with EAC. EAC does a great job, of course. If I ever need to make a copy of the CD (that I legally bought of course), I use FLAC frontend ( a free FLAC to WAV converter software) to decode the FLAC file into the WAV, and then use EAC to burn it onto a CD-R. Works great.
I bought the iaudio X5: an IPOD like device that in my opinion, has
-better sound quality than the Ipod
-Functions as a pure USB memory device on any operating system (windows, MAc OS or linux) so no need for itunes or any othe rsoftaware, just drag your files and copy
-Has FM radio (great recveption)
-has a builtin in ADC that allows one to convert an analog input in 320 KBPS MP3 if you ever want to record analog
-has a built in equalizer (which I don;t use)
-does not scratch like the Ipod
-MOST IMPORTANT: It plays FLAC files natively!
-costs less than the IPod This is the Iaudio X5 by COWON. I have the 60 gb version.
For my laptop, I use Winamp player: it is free and excellent.
Hope this helps, buddy.
-akhilesh