Though my majority of listening is through the CD format I do stream to find new music. I too like the reality of holding the disc in my hand and actually owning a physical copy with artwork and lyrics physically there. There’s something more to actually owning a physical copy for me. Also for the collection aspect. Most of my cd collection and all of my vinyl collection was stolen years ago. I thought I’d never be able to replace my cds as the rumors of cds no longer being pressed were rampant at the time. Suffice to say where there’s a demand there’s a supply and I don’t see cds or vinyl going extinct, at least not in my lifetime. Never know though. There’s just to many CD players and turntables which is a large market for first time users and upgraders too.
There’s a decent market for remastered cds too as the technology and art of remastering old analog releases to compact disc has evolved to very good sound quality. Certainly much better than originally when cds first came out and better than 20 years ago. I still like original analog when it comes to older releases done on vinyl originally yet again the remastering process has evolved to quite good standards. I too went the compact disc route a long time ago. I have about 2000 or so more cds to replace. Many box sets and other releases are out of print yet I’m still able to locate many releases that went missing from my collection. I’m also constantly updating my collection with new releases and remastered releases if the remastering is worth it. Just recently I bought Jethro Tulls Benefit, Aqualung and Thick as a Brick releases. I had the whole Tull catalog up to Jtull.com and these three are part of the releases that went missing and I’m replacing. They have the added benefit of being remastered by a Steven Wilson who does an excellent job. Sounds so much better than the remasters I had that went missing. Literally night and day. I’ll be replacing the last set of remasters by Tull that I still have too, the sound quality is that much better.