What is the difference between an iPod and a regular MP3 player?

Macintosh electronic products have been the "it" thing to have every since they first came out with the iPod way back when. Solely based on function, the iPod is no different than any other mp3 player on the market. They are all made to serve the same purpose, the iPod just comes in a pretty shiny case and is very user friendly. The price tag is ridiculous though. I have a friend that still has the 1st generation iPod and it still works fine, but this is a rare case. I can't tell you how many times I've seen broken Mac electronics owned by my friends. Despite a high price, they are very fragile. Case in point, my friend dropped his iPod touch on a carpeted floor and the screen cracked! I'll never ever buy a product from Mac. Basically all you're buying when you get a Mac product is its image IMO.