Skipping wasn't an issue in 98 with my 10-second skip protection on a Sony Discman. Then in 1999, I got a Phillips 45 second skip protection. I still own that player and it still works and I still use it on occasion. Yes, I have owned MP3 players. Neither work anymore tho. One is from 2003 and the other 2008. HDD died on the first and the other battery died for good about 2 years ago.