I don't know how people listen to music or poscasts while they play games. That totally defeats the purpose of playing for me. When I play a game, I want to be IN the game...lost--but if I'm having to focus on what Steve is saying, or am killing Nazis as I listen to Tears for Fears...it brings me out of the virtual reality I'm purposefully trying to get lost in.
Not to mention, I play a lot of competitive games like CS, BF2, or COD...I NEED to hear every footstep, and the direction from which it came. Listening to music will get you killed...in fact, I'd go so far as to say not wearing headphones weakens players...not to mention jamming to music or listening to podcasts.
I want to hear that crow caw in the distance. I want to hear the grunt of a Charr in a nearby camp. I want to hear the enemy player drop down from a box, and make a slight sound alerting me to his presence behind me. Sound engineering and awareness is half the game experience.
Anyhow.