Anahata, I've been considering exactly that option. There is an apparently identical unit for sale online locally (NZ). The dealer, however, can't tell me if the USB port, clearly marked 'USB IN' will work in reverse. As you say, it is cheap, but not if it is useless to me. I can't imagine why I'd send music FROM the computer to anything I own.
My old computer didn't need a boosted tapedeck input. Aren't new dual-core computers good!
The old one lost motherboard AND HD, shortly after a trojan. Royally irritating.