CDDiG, sounds like the decision on the Kenwood is a pretty easy one.

As for the iPod interface - It seems to me that through the Kenwood unit, it is basically just an aux input, but the controlls are still used via the iPod itself. This is the case with mostly any other brand.

Alpine, however, has a whole new take on the iPod experience, where you can control the iPod from the headunit and everything is diplayed on the headinut, essentially making your iPod a slave music server for your headunit. Click on this ling then on the section on the top left to view the iPod demo.........

http://www.alpine-usa.com/