i completely get preferring analog media, so if it’s about the sound characteristics (that ‘warmth’), having physical media, etc fair enough. but if the goal of an audiophile is to get the highest quality reproduction of a recording wouldn’t CDs or FLACs be your best bet?
maybe this only really applies for newer music, perhaps digital releases for music recorded analogue are just digitized vinyl or reel to reel recordings but for music produced in DAWs the highest quality version available for that release would surely be either a CD or a digital FLAC release
It’s like preferring to drive your departed grandpa’s 1960s Oldsmobile to the store instead of the new 2024 car parked next to it in the garage. Is it technically better? No, but for that trip, on that day, the Olds is more enjoyable.