Window, extract routine, player

Window is too large and looks positively vile on an 800x600 res
Is on the list for "better fit".

Extract routine is pretty slow on my broadband connection (23kbps)
Sorry, don't understand this question. "Extract" generally refers to the "program install phase" which has no correlation to download speed. If you are referring to your speed connection on a stream, StationRipper has NO influence on this speed... dictated by streamer, internet traffic, your ISP, and your computer.

Player should be an internal one (then I could hear them!....) as Media Player 6.4 (the one I have) won't play ANY of the stations I've attempted to rip from.
StationRipper does NOT compress/decompress mp3 files. It captures and writes the file information provided by the stream it is monitoring.  As with any "file type", you will need a player which can open and read the file.. in this case being a mp3 file type... which WMP 6.4 can provide along with numerious other players.  IF you want to listen to the stream you are recording, click on the "Listen", this will send a "relay" of the stream. Open WMP, use option "open URL" and enter the following phrase.... http://127.0.0.1:10069
Now you can monitor the stream you are recording. You can create a shortcut for future use and convenience.