I have an alternate configuration I would like to explore.....I was going to start a new thread but saw this on so I figured I would see if it made sense to ask this here....sorry if it seems like a hijack.

Why not do this...
Install gpodder for Wintel on the N900 file system. Configure it so it downloads podcasts to the same folder as the N900 Gpodder install, and configure it to use that same database for metadata as the N900 Install.

You could not run both the N900 gpodder and the PC gpodder at the same time because I don't think the file system would mount.

When you plug the N900 into the PC....run gpodder on the PC from the N900....download what you like. Close out of the app and when you disconnect, you run gpodder on the N900. Both instances share the downloaded podcasts and Metadata db.

I have not had the time to try this but I do wish to. If anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate it.....