[Crimson]

Apple Lossless is bit perfect. It can be converted, in iTunes, to any other lossles, bit perfect format. It makes as much sense to rip CDs into this format as any other bit perfect solution. 

Until Uncle Steve decides that you shouldn't be able to convert it and iTunes no longer has that option.

I'm leery of putting my data into _any_ Apple proprietary format. I'll stick with open, fully documented data formats, thank you very much.

FYI, there are many other programs that read/convert ALAC as well, not just iTunes.