Great points duga. I was listening to a broadcast on the radio last night, and the show's topic was how board games are making a comeback in popularity (as an alternative to video games) because they're tangible and highly social- you can get to know people well when you play a board game with them. Having a record collection can be something to be proud of and to talk to people about face to face. To some, that might be less appealing than chatting online or with people on last.fm, but for me, talking to people face to face about music really makes an impact on me, and can make a more lasting impression. But then again, it all depends on how open you tend to be with people in the physical world. There are really benefits to both; dare I say equal benefits?
What's interesting to me is that there seems to be a growing interest in returning to what is tangible, physical and concrete. The digital world expands so rapidly that it can feel like you're being swallowed whole by it, and it can be hard to keep up with all the constant changes and advancement. Switching to vinyl might not just be nostalgic, elitist or fanatical, it might also be a sign of wanting to be close and connected to what we own- what we can hold and display. It feels more rewarding and secure that way. There's a real difference between a broken record and a deleted file; between a glowing digital thumbnail, and the sheen of ink on paper or card; between typing an album title into iTunes and searching record stores and eBay for that perfect record. The latter examples seem more personal, more human, more rewarding in the long run.
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