Static electricity: Unique to Vinyl Systems?

I have room conditions similar to the OP and have an old Radio Shack anti-static carbon fiber record brush I use on each record prior to playing. THat seems to help remove static electricity accumulated on vinyl prior to playing. Been doing this with success for a long time. I take it for granted somewhat these days but would not want to be without it. IT was a $10 or so item at Radio Shack back when vinyl was still king. Not sure if still available or who might sell a similar device these days but willing to bet they are still out there somewhere.

Something like This

I have this problem occasionally in winter-- sometimes culminating in a rather loud discharge pop. The solution is to occasionally discharge the record spindle to ground with a patch wire. YMMV depending on whether your turntable's spindle bearing well is grounded or not.

Also, if you hear those sounds when the needle is off the record, try powering the phono stage off and on and see if that resolves the problem.

Alas, I've tried all the recommendations offered, and the problem continues unabated. I guess this will forever limit my vinyl listening.
Thanks anyways, everyone

At a show I once observed a demonstration of an all digital rig apparently get fried, from a CD with static electricity. The demonstrator laid out all his demo CD's on the carpeted floor in front of the rig. After picking up one of these CD's from the carpeted floor, inserting the CD in the drive, and hitting play, some rather ugly noises and flashing lights briefly appeared before everything appeared to die. Fortunately for the demonstrator he had a couple of more similar rigs already set up, and he just continued on. A friend I was with just walked out, thinking the demonstrator/designer/engineer so foolish that he couldn't possibly offer anything worthwhile. I later returned to enjoy a rather interesting demonstration that still haunts me (in a good way) to this day.