I have no horse in the sound quality wars. I find it remarkable that records sound as good as they do given the obsolete technology.
As far as record collections being “investments” they are certainly emotional investments but not financial. When it’s our time the vast majority of us will have our record collections
1. Handed down and likely listened to rarely if ever sitting in boxes
2. Sold at estate sale for a fraction of their cost, or
3. sold to record shop for a fraction of their cost.
I find collecting of anything, except rare cases, to be mainly emotional and OCD than trying to amass some perceived value
As far as record collections being “investments” they are certainly emotional investments but not financial. When it’s our time the vast majority of us will have our record collections
1. Handed down and likely listened to rarely if ever sitting in boxes
2. Sold at estate sale for a fraction of their cost, or
3. sold to record shop for a fraction of their cost.
I find collecting of anything, except rare cases, to be mainly emotional and OCD than trying to amass some perceived value