At the time I used it (around 2006), I don't believe QuickTime was required, but it was Trojan-horsed onto me every time iTunes updated. It was an opt-out, and Apple definitely fostered the impression that it was required (it was for some features I guess).
It also hijacked file associations without warning, which was one of the most annoying/aggressive things about it.
I'll also add that having to install bloated garbage like iTunes in the first place was aggressive (due to Apple's policy of locking iPod owners into using iTunes), so adding another piece of bloated garbage on top of that was really irritating.
