Can I use iPod classic without iTunes? If so, how?

I own an iPod Classic 160 GB. I have ripped my enormous CD collection to mp3 format, and have stored it all on a hard drive. (I also use old-fashioned library organization, i.e., artists in folders from A-Z as top of hierarchy, then subdivided by artist, then by album, and I have painstakingly modified most of my metadata to my file system, e.g. "Shepherd, Kenny Wayne" rather than "Kenny Wayne Shepherd."

I'm an older adult. I listen to entire albums, almost exclusively. I have a 100 GB DMC Xclef. It is supremely simple and logical. The Xclef file system allows the file hierarchy described above. I can choose folder "R", then artist "Rameau, Jean-Philippe", then album "Pieces de Clavecin en Concerts", then (if desired) track "11 - La Forqueray".

I run Windows 7, though some of my mp3 files were ripped using WinXP.

Is there some way to use my iPod without iTunes? iTunes has jumbled my file system and ignored or replaced much metadata and leaves many mp3 files as "unknown artist" which my Xclef player doesn't do?

The Xclef really functions as a hard drive, though clearly there must be some sort of Windows-compatible bit of software on it, as it doesn't open Windows Media Player. On the iPod, I ran across someone using the player as an external hard drive and WinAmp, for example, to play files when connected to their PC. I'm interested in some way to play files, using the iPod as a portable hard drive (not connected to PC) with some bare-bones player on it.

Is this even remotely possible, or should I just sell it and buy something else?

Thanks in advance!