A new analog medium

we are seeing a lot of this ignore-the-anti-digital in the analog forums these days.

I would say listen for yourself and don't ignore what you hear.

There is dogma but if analog is better you will actually hear that. I hear it.

BTW, quantization does lose 'data'. It is synthesizes.

I see your point but I didn't want to turn this into another digital vs. analog discussion.
I do happen to think that a properly implemented optical analog format would be superior to any optical digital format, however.

The economics won't work for manufacturing laserdiscs. While the sonics could be quite good, there would be a very limited market since consumers would have to buy a new player. No major manufacturer will get on board now since it would further confuse the Blue-Ray/HD DVD issue. You might as well bring back Elcaset.

Any new format that doesn't address computer and internet usage and rights management is DOA. Unfortunately a new analog medium falls in this category by definition.

No one will expend the money to develop a new media for a niche market.

I agree; the economics wouldn't work.
No large company would take this on with the intention of making money.

When I see the time, effort, and money spent by audiophile DIYers on technologies that could best be discribed as niche (horn speakers with field coil magnetics, for instance) simply because they have a passion for it; I would have assumed that a new analog format would have emerged from the 'grassroots.'
In other words, someone would do it just because it can be done.