Would vinyl even be invented today?

Well yes, I'd say it has pretty much reached the limits of what is possible using the existing phono playback technology.

I guess the only point you are missing is that vinyl playback offers some unique musical qualities that are unavailable with the digital formats (as good as they are, and are becoming).

So if you're curious, why don't you buy yourself a good entry level vinyl playback system and see what you may be missing??? Reading different opinions about it can only take you so far...

Happy Holidays!

There is a reason why many who have every media option available still prefer like vinyl. They can not all be masochists.

If it was it would be treated like a miracle.
As would a book, all that wisdom, no internet bill, no battery, no plug -OMG !

It's 100 year old technology that peaked over 20 years ago already.

NEw records are being made but prices are high and quality control questionable. Nothing major new in site, though prices for new records and capable players continue to go up and newer alternatives get better and cheaper. So there you go.

I bought my turntable back in teh 80s to preserve my investment in records at that time and that has worked well. I still buy old vinyl in good shape on teh cheap from time to time and an occasional collectors Item that I must have for a premium, but if I was not an old guy who happened to colelct a lot of records over the year, I would not bother any more frankly.

No
If I was to start from scratch it would be Devialet or such like all the way.
Not only that byt new materials may mean that records/or the like will be made of something far more resilient - who knows - graphene or such like.
Not only that, but vinyl can only exist as it does with over 100 years technology behind it