Several years ago, we bought a bit of music on iTunes. After using the service a while, we stopped because it was just too difficult to listen to the music you'd paid for: you either had to use iTunes to do it (difficult if you were not using a Mac or Windows computer), and portability-wise you had to use an Apple device, like an iPod.
I've actually had an iPod shuffle for years and at the time was using an Apple base station to play music through my amp, so it worked. But these days I prefer to use my Kindle (or more recently, my Kindle-converted-to-an-Android-tablet) and Chromecast, and I have never liked iTunes as a playback program on the PC.
When I saw that iTunes allowing those who subscribed to iTunes Match to get .m4a files rather than .m4p files of their purchases, I was hopeful. .m4as are the unprotected versions of the files, meaning that they can be played on other devices and don't require iTunes.
I was a little irritated because it feels as though iTunes is holding the music you've bought hostage until you slip them more money, but considering the amount of music involved here, it would be the "cheapest" (legal) way to get the DRM off them. I fronted up my $28 (Canadian) and began downloading.
Sad to say, there are parts of my library that are still in m4p and are unavailable in the unprotected format. The notable pieces are Tom Waits's Real Gone, three whole albums by Jolie Holland, one album each by Lisa Germano and Shriekback, and a Liz Durrett EP. How annoying.
I'm more committed than ever to only buying DRM-free music (and never giving Apple another dime).
