If you're still suffering from the unfortunate side-effects of the OS X 10.5.2 auto-update, and are hesitant to allow anymore updates from Apple, it looks like you can come out of your update-bunker: Apple claims that the 10.5.3 update -- released today -- addresses a number of the issues with USB audio interfaces present in 10.5.2.

Apple Support describes the fix as "Addresses an issue with stuttering video and audio playback in certain USB devices." Why it's listed after "fixes a font issue that could result in Helvetica Narrow being used in applications instead of Helvetica" is beyond me (some angry aesthete started a letter-writing campaign?), but it's important to note that the language says "some USB devices," meaning users who experienced problems with firewire interfaces may be waiting for another update for their fix. (Create Digital Music notes that the update does change the version number of the firewire driver, so that might be something).

Regardless, if you've haven't already, its probably a good idea to accept the 10.5.3 auto-update into your life. So far it seems like it rectifies problems as opposed to introducing them.