Sync via MTP puts Windows Media Player between you and Fuze. With MSC, the Fuze simply works like a flash drive.
The other thing WMP does is that if you have unfortunately been stuck with “copy-protected” files–protected from YOU, who bought them!–you need WMP and MTP mode to send over the codes that unlock them on your player.
And if you are not particularly computer savvy, WMP may have tricked you into converting (ripping) your own CDs into copy-protected files, because that is the default setting. If it did, you are stuck with MTP mode and WMP.
Test and see. Put your Fuze in MSC mode. Send over an album you ripped in WMP. Try to play it on the Fuze. If you get an error message about renewing your subscription service–subscription services also use the lock codes–then you’re going to have to transfer your music via WMP again, or rip it to .mp3 files, which aren’t protected.
You can, and should, change the default setting in Windows Media Player under Tools/Options/Rip Music. Make the format mp3, which will play in anything and is not copy-protected. Use good quality, at least 192 kbps. You deserve it.
If you really love playlists, you are going to be stuck using music library software like Windows Media Player. However, the free Winamp will do playlists in MSC mode. Downside: the free Winamp won’t rip CDs to mp3, so you’ll stil need Windows Media Player to do that.
