What's wrong with winamp3? It doesn't sound any worse than winamp 2.8. They use the same audio decoder. Winamp3 does support plugins, but they are called compontents now. It doesn't support winamp 2.x plugins, because it was completely rewritten. It does support winamp 2.x skins, these skins load really fast, especially if you have desktop alpha off. Windows 9x users do really need to stay with winamp 2.x though, some of the best features of wa3 come out in win 2000 and xp. The desktop alpha feature is really great... it makes the player very unintrusive at about 10%.
Winamp3 also doesn't install anything to any other directory than the winamp3 one, except for two or three aol icons that take about 2.3 seconds to remove (click+delete key).
If you don't want to use winamp of any version, don't. There are plenty of other players you can use: WMP 6.4 is great. WMP 7,8, and 9 are great, but kind of bloated. Sonique .98 is pretty damn good. Sonique 2 final will be out within probably two years, if you can wait that long. QS player is good. A korean one called Soritong is pretty good. and the last one i can think of, coolamp is small and good.
Oh... and i would suggest the "boom" skin for wa3, it's big and slow loading, but if you like great visuals and animations, get it.
F*** you. F*** you. F*** you. You're cool! F*** you! I'm out!