flash based vs. HDD mp3 players

Aside from space, is there any other reason to pick one over the other?
do flash based players have more battery life? faster transfer (usb 1.1)?

I dropped my hdd player from my desktop (about 1 meter from the ground) and it broke.

Flash-based players are more costly (in a price-to-capacity standpoint, they start at a lower price point obviously), but have two major things going for themselves; extended battery life (some around 40hr) and are less prone to malfunction as they are without moving parts. Not to mention some are horrendously adorable.

I'll never buy an hdd mp3.

Look at the Nano, first off. The technology itself is dying. Then you have weight, size, fragility. If you want your entire collection of music on a single device, then sure: the HDD is the thing for you. For anything else it comes down to two things: portability and hardiness. It's no match. If you want something lightweight, fast, easy to use: go with flash.