When I can get a nice deal on an LP or a single (even if my player technically doesn't play singles) I'd like one, but common times I get CDs, most CDs sound better on a good sound system than MP3 files on the speakers I have for them. Also, burning music to CDs doesn't sound quite as good as a real, first print CD anyway, and then normally not as good as an LP can. I've got kind of a cheap record player (it's supposed to allow me to make MP3 files based on playing the record, but I just use it as a player) but Information Society's first album sounds better there than my MP3 files. Although, for ease of use, an MP3 player isn't bad and, unfortunately, most of my Japanese music has to be on MP3 (or else, I import the CD like with my B'z single). So, if possible/viable always go physical, if quality and collectivity are not prime for you, MP3 does nicely.