The cost of LP's and CD's - an observation

I distinctly remember new CD's, at their height in the mid-2000s, regularly costing $18.99 or so

Wait a second, 1980s? Has there been a more fun year than 1983 or 1984?

One thing that should be considered is longevity.  CDs backed-up on HD can last forever (can be restored), while LPs will develop over time more noise and pops (that I cannot tolerate).  Of course one can make analog tape copy or digitize LP, but original media cannot be recreated from it.

Also, according to RIAA, copying CDs (for non-commercial use) on Audio CD-Rs is perfectly legal, since royalties are paid (included in the price of Audio CD-R).  CD I copy from my friend doesn't have box/booklet but it cost about $0.25   It is not only the way to save money, but mostly to legally obtain CDs that are impossible to buy.

it’s not just that analog is better, but that the recording process served the music and music making, much better then. and the musicians were....more special.

Imagine: one take, no mix-downs- and all recorded to a standard far in excess of the finest playback systems of the day. Lightning in a bottle. Special, indeed.

Listening recently to:

Baaba Maal: Missing youRokia Traore: Beautiful AfricaMary Halvorson: MeltframeJohn Daversa: CuarentenaKurt Elling: The Questions (studio album)
Jessie Reyez: Being Human in PublicRosalia: Los AngelesBeyonce: Homecoming Live
Not arguing that music in the golden age that @mikelavigne refers to was not beautiful.
But the relatively recent releases I list are skillfully recorded and feature beautiful music.
Does not make sense that human ingenuity in music was restricted to a specific, limited span of decades. Making music is a human feature. Not likely that the human gene pool would change in this short span of time to limit musical ability.
My listing of Beyonce will likely elicit some snickers. But listen to that album. It's a recording of her concert of Coachella. She sings backed by a marching band. Consider how difficult it is arrange pop music for a marching band so that the vocals and other aspects of the music are not drowned by the brass or drums. Consider how difficult it is record. Check out Beyonce's talent and pleasure in playing with English when she raps in moments. Check out the rapid transition between songs, rhythms, and keys. Her singing is not as powerful as Arethra's but still remarkable. The album is a tour-de-force.