Quality: vinyl then versus vinyl now...

The records "then" were at mass production and so worthed less than nowdays that are custom built
The assumption on quality levels on both cases could be made quite logically...

There are $30 new ones which you can only find at $200 used. If you get a playable $1.99, of which I have hundreds, then the new ones are usually suprefluous, unless you are really into such comparisons of what is done with master tapes in different studios.

I wouldn't break the bank on re-issues w/out specific knowledge of an improvement. God knows from were Music Direct, etc. obtain their source material on a per album basis. Sometimes good, sometimes less good. Some labels have a reputation of better, more consistent re-issue LPs.

"Most LP's nowadays are not necessarily any better...just on heavier vinyl and quieter."

That's been my experience, with the Doors in particular. Good point, and for me sometimes worth the extra $$.