Are "streamers" the new "transports"?

Yes I think streamer’s and streamer/servers are the new "transports".

As far as things that contribute to better sound quality goes it’s the same basic things that are needed with other digital transports. Things like high quality audio grade parts, minimizing electrical noise by isolating components, minimizing jitter, better power supplies, controlling vibration etc. All that stuff applies to most all audio gear. Mass market computers are not designed for audio and so company’s are designing dedicated components optimized for audio performance.

Basically, "yes" but with one big caveat. For most of the time transports have been on this earth, they transmitted the data over SPDIF, in the original mode, which was isochronous. That meant that the timing of each sample transmitted was determined by the goodness of the clocking of the transport and the goodness of the recovery by the DAC.
So if there was jitter in the transport, the music is compromised.  I wont go into the math, but consider the "bits" the X-axis and the timing the Y axis, draw a curve and you get the idea.

USB, and a newer mode of SPDIF, are asynchronous.  In asynch protocols the transport, streamer, or well-trained parakeet just sends the data and the DAC gathers it up, reads it into memory, and re-times it.  So NOW the jitter is almost entirely under the DAC's control.  Other issues, such as digital noise enter the picture, but let's stay on the big difference for simplicity - and that's timing and jitter.
So the inference is that DACs today are less dependent on the goodness of the timing of the signal than in the older transport days. So my answer is "yes, exactly, but its less relevant today".
My two pence,
and I design the stuff,
G

I think that you left out the sweet spot 2.5
https://www.magnahifi.com/en/webshop/product/mano-ultra
or
https://www.minidsp.com/products/streaming-hd-series/shd-studio
Both in the $800-$1000 range.
I have the Studio, I like it better than my BluNode.
It uses Volumio which is easier to play my local tracks on SSD.
BluSound is a little easier with Qobuz.
Plus the Studio has DSP.  Maybe I'll get to it after Christmas.

I would use Bluesound Node 2i (or Vault if you need CD ripper + storage). Excellent BluOS software will make a difference. Then stream to your DAC of choice...

ianrmack

I'll preface by saying, I have a stellar system, a great collection of vinyl and CD's . I took a long time and investigation before jumping into the streamer "world".  I have had CD transports for years and still enjoy my current  PSA PWT transport. 

After ripping 70% of my CD's , I went to AXPONA this past year and noted that most of the rooms with streamers that I enjoyed were Aurender units . I even met the gentlemen from Aurender who gave me an excellent education on streaming and why I should buy Aurender ( of course ) .  Recently,  I bought a lightly used Aurender X100L .  Previously , I listened to my ripped CDs using J River through my laptop to my PSA DAC bridge which was pretty excellent, but the Aurender has taken everything to a whole new level of music appreciation. And I recently added Quobuz HR within the Aurender Conductor App and I may never leave the house again . 

If you're going to take the "jump" , I would recommend an Aurender product, followed by the Lumin U1 Mini forgoing the built in DACs and using your own .  

And in answer to your question , YES , a better streamer will provide you with better everything in my opinion IF you have a good system with which to appreciate what is being presented to you. 

Happy Listening ... 

Shad