When and how did you, if at all, realize vinyl is better?

I have had more than the last 30 years to compare, no ambiguity on my part

Same with me. Perhaps I just got lucky with my choice of components.

I've realized that the premise is not necessarily true. I’ve listened to lots of vinyl for decades and now use a CD player as my only source. I believe you can assemble (craft) an audio playback system so CDs will sound just as good or better than vinyl. Each step of the way, while improving (striving for a certain preferred sound) my current system piece by piece, iteratively, its only source was digital. End game: CDs sound terrific on my current system. I think often times people who believe vinyl sounds better are judging based on playback on a system which was not purposely crafted for a digital source.

If you believe vinyl sounds better and live in Atlanta I'd love to be persuaded. (Actually, probably would hate to be persuaded, considering what it would cost to replace my 1,676 CDs with vinyl, and purchasing a decent table as well. Egads.) Let's get together for listening comparisons: digital at my place; vinyl at yours; or however if you have a better idea.

It proved to me that the differences between analog and digital aren't solely at the front end. Synergy of the system is what makes one better
than the other.

Precisely!