Mezmo, your "big picture" overvue of the source in my opinion is spot on. I enjoy vinyl, but have become lazy. I have spun CDs for years and have enjoyed the process. Now I run a Mac Mini and I can't imagine going back. With that said, Yes, it pisses me off sometimes, computers have problems. And putting a computer in your audio system for me puts work a little too close to play sometimes. I don't blame anyone for not wanting to take the jump. In someways It's easier to put in a CD or put on a record in that you pretty much know it is going to play, that is not always the case with a computer. But once you get hooked on listening to whatever you want from the confort of your listening chair, well, it's hard to go back. I think people need to decide for themselves what works for them, and I'm sure that someday soon a music server will be plug and play like the rest of the sources we use.
The best of the DACs
I've heard can not perform better than my CD player...most of them not nearly as well. Why would I want to open my wallet and patience to pursue digital downloads and have results not be better than what I already have. I don't mind storing the silver discs....and actually, LP's often sound better than CD's.