What am I missing?

Sounds to me like there is a lot of: “we have always done it that way, so I want to keep doing it that way”. Nothing wrong with that. If you are 70 years old like me it makes sense. Although my streaming and vinyl are about the same, a bit better than spinning CDs. If you are 40, getting into physical media is crazy unless you are just into nostalgia.

By my nature and profession (scientist, high tech executive / strategic planner) I am constantly assessing technology… dismissing much of it, but recognizing those that will stick. There are trends that are irreversible driven by technology and social change. The movement from physical medium to virtual is irreversible. It does not mean the physical will go away… I have a library of leather bound books… about 400… but we got rid of the 1,500 other books that we used to have. We now have about a thousand books in Kindle and Audible). We have gotten rid of all out video laser disks, 8 tracks cartridges, Cassette tapes, VCR, BetaMax, DVD, and most recently all my CDs. We still have about 500 blu-ray disks, but haven’t bought one in a couple years… they are next to go. We stream (4K movies, and music) and I listen to vinyl.

So, much of this depends on your time horizon. I enjoy the best of both worlds, i am currently listening to a heavy vinyl, Living Stereo (RCA Victor… 1958 recording) of Prokofieff’s Lieutenant Kije on a fantastic analog rig. It makes sense for an old fart like me. But if I was 40 and not into nostalgia, it would be crazy for me to be investing so much money into past technology for so few incredible moments of music when investing in streaming and the future would get me there so much more quickly and less expensively. Buying CDs… that would be crazy unless you own an ungodly good CD player and don’t have the money to acquire an equally great DAC and streamer. But in a few years you will be getting rid of the CDs and player… of course unless you died of old age. And then, good call.

Point well made, and taken, ghdprentice. But it only makes me wonder why people under 40 embrace vinyl, of all things. Bear with me a moment. My son-in-law is a Brooklyn hipster and guitarist; he and my daughter have decent day jobs, but share a tiny apartment near Prospect Park. Tiny! Half of it is taken up by his guitars.

Oh, and his turntable and vinyl collection. He seeks out, and buys, very expensive 180 gram pressings of new stuff, but listens to them on a Project Debut TT (I had one of those; junk, IMO), and that's the best component in his system. Not to mention: did I say their apartment is TINY? Terrible acoustics, and neighbors that preclude listening loud anyway. 

So here's my bewilderment. Why does he privilege vinyl? Back in the day, when vinyl was supposed to be definitively supplanted by CDs, one could buy used vinyl at almost any "record" store, and for pennies on the dollar. Not anymore! Now, those new deluxe pressings he favors are way more expensive than their digital equivalents (CD or streamed). And way inferior sonically, IMO. He gifted me, for instance, with Tool's "Fear Inoculum" last Christmas: a huge box set, no compromises. But I already loved that album (as he knew), and never play the vinyl because the CD just sounds better: more open, more detailed, not to mention superior track access, no surface noise, etc. etc. And I bought the CD used on eBay for $10. The LP set cost over $100!

So why go there? Especially if your budget is limited, and you're too young for the nostalgia element that ghdprentice notes, why would one not go digital?

To my mind, this is just an irrational fetish, like preferring fixed-gear bicycles, or (for that matter) being kosher. It only "makes sense" given a host of mysterious values that are not rationally defensible. 

Now, I'm all in on irrational, indefensible values! Frankly, I could make an argument (and have, in print) to the effect that ALL "values" are finally "irrational," even the preference for "reason" in science. But be honest, at least. Don't "argue" for your irrational preferences! Live and let live, and eschew forums like this one.

But we're not wired that way, are we? We want to believe that OUR values are "better," and to persuade others of this, we need to marshal arguments. 

@snilf ...be happy he's listening....and 'junk' is subject to taste & budget....

Better 180 g. lp's than a gram or so of the 'alternative alternatives.'....although there's that when stuck into a micro-manse'.... ;)

'Better' is so wrapped up in preference that it becomes almost preaching to the choir (esp. here ) when one wants to debate that into the same degree of oblivion...

One listens to what one prefers.

You are what you eat, even if it's through your ears.... ;)

Embrace son-in-law...he's young.  That, in itself, makes a huge diff in this era of earbuds and  'questionable electro-devices' that deliver it into ones' head.

Irrational is a POV.

You've yours, I've Mine.  I can argue you into a corner over it.  And so WTF is the end game for you and me.

Gift him with what you feel is the 'better alt' is my suggestion...he's family now, has the attention of your dau, so...better to try to love 'im than the alt, Right?

...unless you just Have to be the Grinch...😏

Case in point:

You will never be able to Not make me enjoy this....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF177Aj59C8&list=RDMMbhQRS6iy23w&index=25

(...the ’long lunar note’ has been known to blow breakers....That, in itself, amuses me.....)

I embraced streaming years ago as my taste in music was shifting. Internet radio streams allowed me to explore without spending needlessly. When I heard a song I liked I would take note and further check out the album/artist. My days of purchasing CDs “blindly” were over. Truly game changing.

At present I still utilize radio streams, support a favorite jazz station, subscribe to Qobuz, and purchase the occasional CD/download I want in my core library. I couldn’t be happier.