This is definitely an interesting idea and it probably won't happen in the near future.
There are two main things holding this idea back from becoming the reality in the U.S.
1.) The average Internet user has no idea what "bandwidth" really is and while they may know the words "download" and "upload", but they would have no idea what their relationship is and how they work beyond, well, that they work on their computer. It would take an extreme amount of money and effort to first EDUCATE the Internet users. Until more people become truly Internet-savvy, consumers would be cautious to participate in any program that involves "money" when they aren't clear on how it works.
2.) As you have pointed out, carriers have manipulated the system so that the download/upload bandwidth ratio for broadband consumers is asymmetrical. Until the carriers decide to increase the download/upload bandwidth to a reasonable ratio, there simply won't be enough uploaders to keep up with the demands of the downloaders.
While I'd love to see this happen if it can be done without compromising security, I'd think that Apple would face enormous legal challenges from content providers and even ISPs.
I'd think everybody would benefit, but these companies are thinking in very old-fashioned terms and would resist things that expand their market simply for the sake of maintaining their feeling of remaining in control.
1) iTunes is a platform variable software application
2)releases of iTunes are not tied anymore to releases of mac OSX
therefore, these potential new ways to distribute media will not be reliant on Leopard.
If anyone can pull this off, I'd put my money on Apple as well.
Commenting by HaloScan
