Heaver grade vinyl vs Standard

I have standard weight records that sound as good or better than some of my heavier weight ones, and vice versa. I think the recording, mixing, mastering, and pressing quality have much more of an effect that how heavy the vinyl is.

Not me. It's about the quality of the recording/pressing, not vinyl thickness. In fact most of my best recordings are of the common thickness, that associated with recordings pressed in the 50's, 60's and 70's. I've got a bunch of 're-issues' on thick vinyl and I find nothing about them that is particularily superior. I think it is mostly hype.

In general, I say no. However I do buy them when I can't find or afford an original. Be careful with jazz re-issues. There are some that were not pressed well and have quality issues.

I find little correlation between the weight of the vinyl and the sonic quality, and wouldn't pay a premium for 180 gram pressing unless I thought it was a superior production and pressing to lower cost alternatives. One of my best sounding lps is a super flimsy lightweight pressing of Jennifer Warnes "Famous Blue Raincoat".