The OP's question conflates two issues that must be separated.

Firstly, is it worth spending that kind of money on a hifi source component? If your answer to this question is "no", then you need go no further.

Secondly, is there some extra benefit to be gained from vinyl over other formats? Having tried to live without a turntable for nearly five years, I have found that it does give something more. For whatever reason, I find it generally a more enjoyable listen, particularly over extended periods of time and mastering notwithstanding.

That's all that matters to me. All the technical and ideological discussios so far are irrelevant. 

​​​​​

​

Yes, it’s not necessary to spend big bucks to enjoy great sound with vinyl. However, it can get better with more expensive gear.

My view is that vinyl can be better not necessarily because it’s analogue, but because it’s mastered better.

I have found that what’s good about vinyl still persists after the analogue signal is transferred to digital and back. In other words the AD and DA conversions can be transparent. With the Linn Urika Ii phono stage, doing some of the RIAA processing in the digital domain is beneficial, presumably because distortion  and noise is reduced.