I have produced many albums for artists that have still gone on to press physical CD's and in nearly all cases they have sold them all at gigs and often get reprints done too. There is just something nice about holding that product in your hand.
 
It also completely short circuits all the crap regarding compressed and inferior sounding files too. The CD's just sound better, end of story.

I've bought CD's from subway performers that I have not even opened after 2 years of having them. I guess downloads have made me so lazy that I can't even be bothered to put a disc in the drive. That reminds me, I really should check them out.

Rain
...
As a fan, I hate those things. I buy CD's because they're often the only (or the most inexpensive) way to get high quality audio. But the only thing I do is to unpack them, rip them and then put them on a shelf somewhere where they gather dust and take space.

Agreed!
 
Honestly, though, I don't think that the downloadable stuff will have a longer shel life than the CD work will by any band. This has been the case on the progressive side of things in music!
 
The problem is that the download'able stuff is just low quality, compared to the CD as Rain mentioned, and I totally agree.
 
So my take is, if you are just trying to get your 12 minutes and make a quick buck, and then you're done, then the downloadable and such is the way to go. But if you are into making this last longer and be appreciated longer, I would think a CD is better!
 
I'm not happy with the "hit" oriented mentality of the music business, and I think that this is the definition that you have to take on ... are you going to do your own and not worry about anyone else, or do you want to wait for Godot to write you a check that never arrives, and if it does it's for 14 cents from ASCAP, or BMI!
 
Wooopeeedoo!