Why Do ~You~ Still Play CDs?

I don’t.  I have not had a working CD player for 6 years.  Another customer service nightmare when the laser burned out on my Linn Unidisk 1.1 without Linn supporting disc players any more and using a custom laser.  I find streaming equivalent or better than analog and CD/SACD.  I  do not get added enjoyment from, or need the tactile feel of physical media and consider it an inconvenience.  I do not need to own physical media and recognize streaming is a bargain from the customer’s perspective as business model where thousands of albums available at my fingertips for the monthly charge rather than buying physical content.  The only negative is it is a little more enjoyable to read a vinyl album cover rather thanmetadata on a screen, but reading metadata on a screen is more enjoyable than a CD insert.  

Not played CDs directly since 2007. Rarely even rip one these days.

 I stream and I still purchase CDs.  I agree with your reasons why.  Most of the new ones I buy are reissued box sets that have tracks I can’t get online like live shows that are unreleased.  I still have over a thousand CDs but I find I don’t play them as often due to the ease of use and sound quality with a good streaming system.  I listen to so much more new music streaming.  Interesting to explore new music. It’s good for this old dog to listen to new tracks.  

I just got into streaming less than 1 year ago. Whilst I held out for many reasons (large CD collection that I own, couldn’t wrap my brain around “renting” music), I can honestly say I love it! Almost life changing😂! However, I still find CD’s to have a bit more depth, detail, and just a tiny bit extra level of air. I also find CD listening to sound a bit more dry-in a good way…

Streaming I so enjoy as I find it to sound livelier and more encompassing. I find myself more involved when listening to a song streaming vs CD. I find myself letting loose on Friday and I got the streamer going whereas if I want a more quiet/intimate listening session I go with CD..

I don't stream, and haven't listened to any of the hundreds of digital downloads I purchased a decade (or two?) ago in, well, about a decade.  I like the experience of selecting physical media (LP, CD or whatever), and I've got more to listen to than I can handle in the few years I've got left.