At this point, I will only be using my iPod for listening to podcasts while on long road trips. Around town I will just listen to the radio so the exposed wires will not be much of an issue but you put a question in my mind. Can I eliminate the 5th generation iPod Nano and download podcasts from iTunes to thumb drives?

I see four models on the Kenwood website and it appears that yours is the KMR-D562BT. They all appear to offer the same options. They all look very sleek when compared to the Clarion.