iTunes 9 isn't without drawbacks. In addition to the Genius-update issue I and some other users have experienced, performance is occasionally an issue. Besides the specific examples I already noted, I found iTunes 9 would at times stall when checking Home Sharing libraries for new content, and I experienced several iTunes crashes over the past few days of use.

Still, even given those concerns, I suspect most users will want to install iTunes 9 soon--especially since it's a free download. Besides being a mandatory upgrade if you need to use any of the new features of the iTunes Store and your iPhone or iPod touch, the latest version of iTunes is a worthy upgrade for new users, those with massive media libraries, and those who want to more-easily share their media between family members. Indeed, Apple's goal with iTunes 9 seems to have been to make it easier for new users to bring in media and start enjoying it, while providing some of the most-requested features for existing users. And in most respects, iTunes 9 succeeds.