I suspect that it's the psychical aspect of it, putting the CD in the tray, listening and replace it.. But one thing is for sure, I tire much sooner listening to that compared to the PC, CCA or the "analogue" gear (tape, vinyl) I have. Must old habits that still rules, but why doesn't I just prefer the new way? Digital files in mass, any artist/music genre at a few clicks with the mouse? Where does tape and vinyl go in that equation?
A pondering,
A buddy of mine purchased an old Harley--I went through the motor, repaired replaced things and the distinctive potato, potato, potato sound filled the air. Back in the day, when I was young and invincible I rode a motorcross motorcycle and other various bikes and survived (barely) My buddy told me I could take the old Sportster for a spin if I could start it "manually"--it had an electric start but he pointed at that odd lever tucked away.
So, I turned on the fuel valve, switched on the choke and pushed on the kick start lever as I felt it go past top dead center. Threw my weight at it and nothing. Hmmm, tried again--nothing. Putzed with the choke and it fired--and died. Gave it another go and was able to manipulate the throttle to keep the thing going and soon that two-wheeled vibrator started to move. Took it around the block and gave him his baby back. He took off a few minutes later by using the electric starter and was gone.
It was not the ride I found entertaining, it was getting that beast started that was the real fun. Did not start on the first kick but at least I slipped the clutch correctly and did not kill it so I'll take it as a win. Audio gear can be the same way, think about how it was originally done 60 years ago. Fire up those massive tube driven monoblocks, let them warm up a bit, grab the proper reel-to-reel or record, give it a once over looking for damage and slap it on the machine. Do I want the first song or start with something else? Does the tape run at 3 3/4, 7 1/2 or even 15 inches per second speed? Jeez, am I loading a 78, 45 or whatever speed? Hmmm, get the settings correct, the tubes seem bright enough and press play.
Put it this way, if you have thousands of songs and album collections on your computer--do you listen to them differently than you would if you had to load CDs, tape or records? Say you had a record that really only had one good tune on it, how often would you go through the hassle to listen to that one song you like? No problem by clicking and go--most likely less if you have to physically look for the media, find it, load it, select the correct speed and go knowing full well that in 4 minutes you will be doing it again.
Back 30 years ago, I didn't have reel-to-reel but I did have a HiFi VCR with noise reduction encode/decode from my Panasonic Industrial AG1960. I could even record over the audio tracks without disturbing the video on the tapes! Oddly enough, I made very high fidelity "mix tapes" or 2 hour tapes of various music from CDs to get the party going. This way I didn't have to mess around with the gear and it gave me time to imbibe in spirits and potential dates....wine, women and song you could say. Yes, I had two CD players, one of them being a top loader multi-disc so keeping the party going all afternoon and deep into the night was not a problem. However, that becomes a hassle after awhile so I would grab my HiFi VHS tapes that were pre-mixed after the first hour or two. The sound quality was outstanding as it did spec out to 20 to 20KHz and sounded great---it sounded even better the more drinks I had!
In my garage, I have an audio system. It is a garage so you can't get too OCD about it, cement floors and BBQ grills, riding mowers, metal tool chests and other materials don't lend well to great sound. I go for SPL, if it can't be perfect sound it had better be loud! The club mixer accepts everything from phono, tape to USB as it has a soundcard built in. I do have a dual tray club CD player so I can "scratch" with it, play music backwards, sample and so on. The most common use is to grab that 1/8th inch plug, cram it into my tablet and play FLAC or Toutube videos if need be. Generally speaking, when I use the sound system in the garage it means I'm working on something or having a few brews to enjoy the weather. Oddly enough, in my house is the HT system that measures better, sounds better and IS better! However, I tend to go to the garage when I'm in the mood to listen to music. I listen to CDs in the garage (where they are stored) but generally not in the house. My usage is different, then again I don't drink beer in the house when watching movies but I do in the garage.
In my youth, my sound system was a boombox but I don't have any nostalgia for cassette tapes. I missed out (dodged the bullet) of records because their popularity was dying quickly by the time I procurred my first boom box. CD was what the cool kids used so I never owned a record player or records--and still don't. OK, I found a few records like "Top Ten Polkas" and "Banjo Hits" (including dualing banjos!) but they are a decoration in the garage. I don't have a record player but do own an old laser disc player and Tascam Mini-Disc machine--I get maximum WTF points with those. They sit on a shelf in the garage, a testimony of obsolete technology gone by. Yes, I still own my first real tape deck from 32 years ago, the old Onkyo still works although it needs the channels balanced--some of the kids with man buns think it is cool.
In summation, sometimes just the hassle of the format can make it more enjoyable in a weird way. FLAC files are like electric start motorcycles, automatic transmissions, fuel injection and anti-lock brakes. You are still putting down the road but it just don't feel the same. Personally, I'd like to find one of those old Victrolas--the kind you wind up to play 78's with including the big rams horn--it will sound like utter butt in fidelity, be a pain in the butt to keep running and sure take up a bunch of space but would be cool. Get some Cotton Club music from the 20's--as in 1920, have the women dress up like flappers and stay sober enough to keep hand cranking the Victrola.
At the end of the day, you post on an audio forum so rather the odd duck anyway--embrace the weirdness.