It is faster to play what I want to listen to from collected files, by genre, artist, album or track etc.
Unrelated to audio, I rip ALL video because I detest waiting for DVDs and streaming to get to the actual program when I could be immediately watching it with zero wait time.
Audio files are only created and/or edited using a computer, that does not classify them as "computer" files unless one is goofy enough to play them on one, expecting superior SQ. I keep computers turned off and away from my HiFi room.
SSDs ARE HDDs. They are superior to HDD spinners in many aspects including power required.
I have used Lala, Pandora, Spotify, Tidal, Amazon HD and Qobuz. I kept Qobuz because I like it best for the price (it is the standard at HiFi shows.)
If you are enamored with HiRez tracks, good luck identifying them blindly. Statistics approach random guessing. Pundits usually refuse the test on BS grounds.
A close view of most tracks on Qobuz shows that they are compromised. There’s a high noise floor between tracks (at least) and spikes at the beginning of most, sometimes in additional places.
I enjoy collecting tracks and remastering my favorites to make them sound better to me.
Content providers dislike ripping because they lose ownership control. Audiophiles often dislike it because of the (albeit one time) "work."
It is a pleasurable hobby for me, not "work."
If you’d rather stream (especially waiting for any video) please enjoy.
Flac sounds good enough for me. The only advantage of wavs is that they require "less" processing power during playback, noticeable on some lightweight systems.
As noted streamers can "lose" content at any time. If you collect it you have total control. Recording them is legal. I started out recording AM on a 3" reel recorder.
"Collecting" tracks is no more than a personal choice.
Doowutchalike.