Digital vs. Analog a reasoned comparison

This is not meant to be a "which is better" thread. But I'd like your thoughtful comments on this. It is more an observation about price/performace ratio.

We have all read the various digital vs. analog threads. The analog side of the thread usually can be summed up, "ha ha! analog has been the best format this whole time and now with SACD you digital people are just starting to get close to what analog can do..." The digital side of the thread can usually be summed up as, "well, digital is a lot easier and there is lots of music out there..."

Having both a pretty good SACD player (Sony XA777ES), regular CD player (MAC MCD 205, and an average turntable (Denon DP-47F).

I would like to make this comment:

In the sub 1K reaIm think you have to spend a lot more time, money, and effort to make vinyl sound really good, than you do with digital.

All I mean by this is, assuming a reasonably good system, I think you can get some really good digital sound (redbook even) for $500. Put that same $500 into a vinyl rig and I don't think it will sound better than the digital. But in my experience, the only time I have heard really awesome vinyl is when the analog gear (table, arm, phono amp, various fluids and brushes, and a very clean not played too often and well cared for album) were of extremely high quality (many thousand dollars). And in that case, the music sounded as good as I have heard. I mean that. Great sound. But tricke down a bit, say to my Denon and the phono stage in my MAC 6900 integrated, and it does not sound as good as even 1K CD players I have owned.

For my taste, and level of effort I am willing to exert, digital is easier and the better players offer more good sound than an analog rig FOR AN EQUIVALENT AMOUNT OF MONEY. Another way to convey my thoughts is that a 1K CD player will sound better than a 1K turntable. In my own experience this bears out. I am curious of the thoughts of others though.....