Todays new vinyl LP's better than LP's 40 yrs ago?

In my experience, most likely not. While many jazz and classical reissues score points based solely on scarcity and condition, from a purely sonic standpoint, I'd say the original is generally superior. However, from a cost/benefit point of view, reissues are pretty much a no-brainer. In many ways, this trend echos the vacuum tube industry - they don't make em' like they used to.

There are, of course, exceptions and usual disclaimers apply.

-Richard

Good answer.

I think a lot of new issues are digitally mastered despite being delivered on vinyl. Not all old records sound great. Some of these could be digitally remastered as well and hence sound "better" as a result of the remastering.

Records have always been a crap shoot in regards to good sound. Same true now I would think. The difference now is that new ones cost a lot more and there are a lot of quality control issues that seem to still surround them as well.