This goes hand in hand with the "Startup-Splash" requests. Common users expect a rich graphical/audio experence from the moment they turn on their PC to the moment it shuts off. Microsoft and Apple are good examples of this. However, I don't consider it imitating anyone as you are giving the user what he believes makes the system professional and complete. We do want the average user to experence the goodness of Ubuntu don't we? If we do we must accommodate these ideals.
Couldn't agree more! Get rid of the drums for the start up sound and have something a little less embarrassing. For the moment, I've changed my login sound to the logout one, because I can't stand it!
Take a leaf out of KDE's book! Their system sounds are much better.
Whilst they're at it, make it so that .ogg files can be used for system sounds under GNOME. That way, I can use Kubuntu sounds amongst others or even better, why not standardise the sounds between the flavours of Ubuntu?
I'm a bit sad, but I like the sounds. I miss all the bleeps that came with Kubuntu...
I'd agree personally, but I know of Windows users who have heard the default login sound (with the snaping fingers and angels going ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh). They told me to copy it off to their PC because they liked it so much.
But seriously, the sounds haven't changed since I started using Ubuntu 7.04, and they've gotten a bit boring. Perhaps something with a didgeridoo? :P