First of all, to answer your question, the Creative Zen comes highly recommended. Check out the reviews on CNet.com or ZDNet.com.
As far as Ipods go--I have a 10gb 3rd Gen, and all I've had to do was change the battery a couple of months ago--that's after owning it for over 3 years!
What I've also noticed are 80% of the guys who work at the Apple Store near where I live have 3rd Gens--maybe there is something to the older technology that makes it durable.
Who cares if it's older technology? It works.
Nothing guarantees that new tech is always better...
Kai