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a head unit-less system looks cleaner, but is not as convenient.
when I drive 2 blocks down the street to the store, I don't want to wait for my car PC to boot up, then require me to tell it what I want it to do. I just want to hear music from my "instant-on" head unit, no fuss, no questions asked.
I totally agree that a HU-less system can sound as good or better, but that wasn't what the question was about. it was not hardware specific, it was more general than that.
another reason for me, is secondary PC applications such a GPS. with a PC only setup, you have two choices; 1.) switch back and forth between GPS and audio screens, or 2.) embed the GPS application into your FE (which is more funtional and practical then option #1, but eats up valuable screen real estate as a result)
for me, I want my head unit to take car of all audio functions so that my car PC can be dedicated to any other task I choose. If I want to use GPS, the car PC can just do GPS, I don;t have to switch screens or lose screen real eststate to change audio options.
also, as already mentioned, redundancy. PCs are not reliable whether their in a home or in a car. if the car PC fails, I can still listem to music, all I'v lost is my PC-only functions, but all my baic car audio needs are still there. another issue of PC freezing. if your PC freezes at high volume or the systen goes bazzirk and you cant tuen it down via software volume control you're screwed (unless you have a hardwired pre-amp volume control or equalizer to contol it instead)
for me, the PC is a novelty. I don't want it to take the place of the simple head unit for everyday use.
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