Now I get it...

I am definitely experiencing the same newbie bliss as you.  I have been listening to records my whole life (I'm 55) and after 40+ years I finally put together a great system. I bought a VPI Super Prime Scout from Upscale with a Soundsmith Othello cart, and found a Threshold NS10 and Parasound HCA-800II for a really good deals.  I topped it off with a vintage pair of Snell J3's.   I mean wow.  Like you, I finally get it.  Now get a copy of Hugh Masekala "Hope" and be ready for the neck hairs raising and the tears of joy from such great sound.  I am a musician (Trumpet and Drums) and a have done quite a bit of home recording and mastering. I never really paid much attention to the end user aspect. Now I am more the end user.  I get it.  I am fully inside the rabbit hole. Just bought a Soundsmith Zephyr MK III cart to replace my Othello, though honestly I'm not sure my system can sound any better than it does now.  Here's to the Rabbit hole. Cheers

Thank you everyone!  Glad I’m not alone in the rabbit hole.

Yes but Alice has NOTHING on us!

People need to embrace streaming. It is the 21st century.  However, I do like the look of a $20,000 turntable.  

Larry
I think you will find that the majority of members here with a nice vinyl setup do also stream.... A lot....
Majority of members posting in what's on your turntable tonight thread absolutely do, myself included.
But there is still something other worldly magical about vinyl.
Call it distortion if it makes you happy but it has it and streaming just does not to the same extent.

And you can argue all day until the cows come home over that one.... Lol.