Resolved Question: Best value MP3 player?

I have a huge .mp3 collection, with everything from Opera to Rap, Pop to Metal. I currently have a 4GB .mp3 player, but I get annoyed whenever I feel like listening to something different, because I can guarantee that I haven't got that particular artist/album on the player at the time. So I have to go back to the computer, delete stuff, and copy the albums I want over.

So, I'm looking for a new .mp3 player. It must
- have 40GB minimum storage
- be compact
- play .mp3 files without conversion to another format
- be sold in the UK or US (I'm sick of chinese stuff from ebay that never works)

I don't need
- games
- a big screen (it'll be strictly music only)
- wifi
...and ideally, it won't use iTunes.

Anybody have any suggestions? Ten points on offer...