The Lifespan of an LP?

The problem with vinyl is usually not out-and-out wear from too much playing. The problem is that a record needs to be treated with respect.  Don't eat fried chicken before you take a record out of the jacket to put it on.  Don't leave them out in direct sunlight to bake n' warp.  Put 'em back in the jacket after you've played 'em. If you see dust, cat hair, or sand on the surface, gently wipe it off with a clean soft cloth or dedicated record brush. Similarly, if you see schmutz on the turntable platter, clean it off.  Don't play 'em wet. Try not to zoom your tonearm sideways over the record when you're hunkering down to cue up the track you want to hear.  Don't stack them in a random pile.  Don't stack them horizontally, either.

Sure, all this stuff is pretty much common sense.  But if you're buying a used record, who knows where it's been?

Like Inna,
a Nakamichi cassette player becomes my musical source to cut down on my use of records.  I also 
Place Last record preservative on 
all new records.  Cd’s are also 
a source of my music.

When we were kids and the record would skip, someone told me to put a penny on the head shell. I'm sure that helped wear out the record! 

jnovak -- As an audiophile even back then, I'd put a dime on the head shell instead. A more expensive solution but less weight.

L.A.S.T. [Liquid Archival Sound Treatment] is a fluorocarbon-based record preservative and lubricant and leaves no discernable residue, adds no noise, and in my experience has rescued many a garage-sale disc from the trash. overall noise levels dropped by at least a record grade, formerly distorted records became more listenable. i am no chemist but it is claimed to add more elasticity to the top layer of molecules [supposedly 10 deep] in the vinyl groove, which help to reduce distortion and noise. one warning, NEVER leave the bottle cap off of it, as it will evaporate and it ain't exactly cheap.