I used to think that too,

But I have a Pansonic Stereo in my bedroom with a large knob with detents ("bumps" while turning) on it and I much prefer that when scrolling stations, tracks etc than a smooth wheel.

I find the feedback from the detents, when syncronised with the software [as the empeg is] allows you to navigate menus by 'feel' without even needing to look at the screen. You can easily learn to count "5 bumps to this, 6 to that, scroll down 1 page = of songs = 10 bumps etc".

Very useful in a small device e.g. Ipod-a-like or Empeg while driving.
I've tried the iPod scroll wheel and and "no sir, I don't like it".