Well, I guess they really never thought the Zune 30 to last as long as it did (or someone really messed up when coding the clock driver - FIRED!). But
the ZuneInsider has twittered a promise that the issue experienced on Dec 31st, 2008 will never happen again.
...."we will update the firmware before 2012"
Let's hope so! That would regally suck if they don't!