Have digital players improved

They have improved. I would not say equal to analog. Digital and analog just sound different to me but both are very satisfying

I'm not sure digital has improved over the past 5 years. Computer-based digital aside, it looks pretty much the same to me as it did 5 years ago. As far as having to "fiddle f'g" with analog, once a player is competently installed in your home, it's really pretty easy. Just put the record on, clean the needle and play. Almost as easy as CDs - really. Of course if you're one of those people who are constantly obsessed with futzing around with the record player and living in constant dread that something is amiss - you're defintely better off with a nice CD player.

sorry, in my experience digital is not the equal of well sorted analog. I have a hard time dealing with the compressed nature of the sound stage and lack of air around voices and instruments that analog excels with and digital fall short.