Itunes Store, Sony Connect, etc - does anyone actually bother with them?

[autopilot]

I was just wondering if anyone uses any online music stores, and why?

Just looking at a few and they are still more expensive than Amazon, play etc. Even when buying a whole album.

I'm sure its convenient and all that, but i don't understand why people use them so much.

Would people not prefer the actual CD, complete with artwork etc and at full non-compressed-to-hell quality, which can be ripped to any player/format? And what if you lose your MP3 player? Most CD stores offer free and next day delivery too. They are no restrictions on where you can play the CD and any CD player, rather than being restricted to one manufacturer and a finite number of devices.

The benefits of buying the original CD far out way using services such as iTunes Store, surely?

Online music stores should be FAR cheaper, even if you only consider the reduced quality and lack of CD pressing overheads. How do they get away with it?

Napster To Go seems like a better idea in some ways. Anyone have much experience with it here?


BTW, I know of the well known super cheap Russian website, but we are not permited to name or talk about that here as there is doubts as to how legal it really is.

[Flibb]

I buy the odd track here and there, but for the majority of stuff I use a local shop thats about the same price as play. They also have a lot of 2nd hand back catologue stuff in which is even cheaper.

[ajbrun]

I never buy music without a CD. Like you said, it's far more beneficial to have a CD, rather than just a music file as that can get deleted.

I only have iTunes installed for previewing tracks I may decide to buy. It's just easier than going to the bands' website where they may or may not have sample tracks to listen to.