AAC is just a different format, and a superior one at that. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Audio_Coding)

Maybe you're thinking of the DRM'd files that couldn't be played back by other players, and even iTunes on other computers without your iTunes store account. In that case indeed burning a CD and ripping it would be one solution. They stopped selling DRM'd files completely by 2009, though.

Ahh that was it.

But yep that's how we bypassed it.

I think I bought 6 songs before I found a better alternative. Reminds me how I had 1 iphone (6) and would never get one again.

The DRM was not a whim by Apple, it was demanded by the labels, though. At the time that was the only way they'd even permit an online music store. I don't think there were alternatives that weren't just as locked down, unless you're talking about sailing the high seas.

This is exactly it. Songs were 99¢ with DRM. In 2009, Apple managed to convince enough labels to sell DRM-free copies, but at $1.29. You could, at the time, “upgrade” your DRM copy to be DRM-free for 30¢ a song.