Don't forget that some "obscure" music is marginally cheaper/easier to obtain on vinyl. For example space age pop, which is one of things in the sweet spot for

Don't forget that some "obscure" music is marginally cheaper/easier to obtain on vinyl. For example space age pop, which is one of things in the sweet spot for collecting (for pleasure, not for money): used to be popular and mass-manufactured, now almost no one cares, so the market has a lot of this relatively cheap. Living in the former communist country, I regret not having easy access to heaps of Western vinyls in Goodwills and such, but at least seller awareness is not that high. Also, records are psychologically so much nicer to own. They are large and so is the artwork. Pretentious/ridiculous liner notes are great. Having them set up to sound on par with digital (I don't claim to have means or ear to achieve true "audiophile" sound) is a PITA and requires some money or hustling/tinkering (that's me). You have gear maintenance, cleaning etc. But it's a little hobby in itself. There is also interesting things about the vinyl itself you start to notice. Up to about 1960s the material was thicker, and then starts the progression toward the "floppy" vinyl from 1980s (although some state publishers in my country used the old style even then, great production quality also). Nowadays vinyl is thick and heavy again and probably better produced than ever. But it also became a semi-luxury product so it's almost never worth it, at least for me. I have some new records that they messed up in manufacturing but I'm sure it also happened back in the day.