really interesting points but a couple of thoughts come to mind

First - $1000 in six months is very easily exceeded (especially if all the files that are downloaded, listened to once and then deleted are counted)

second (and more pertinently) - I'm not at all sure that mp3 files can be criticised on quality grounds - I endevour to download files at 256 or 320 bit rate - use the 'jet audio' player and have external speakers and a sub woofer connected (on the other side of the room) to my computer - I also have a CD player connected to a duplicate set of speakers and sub woofer but it just gathers dust - the convenience of making up playlists as I please makes CD selections cumbersome and tiresome and the sound is just fine

a well ripped mp3 file at a respectable bit rate is only very marginally inferior to a CD and way better than a steadily decomposing cassette - (even at 128 a 'good' mp3 is more than adequate - certainly better than FM radio)

play a poor mp3 through crappy PC speakers via a crappy player and yes you'd be convinced mp3 was a dead end format but likewise if you played a scrathed and dusty vinyl record through a beat up old radiophone you'd think records were were pretty hopeless too (and lord knows those vinyl freaks love the sound distortion you get with records and a needle pick-up)

the real problem is nothing to do with copywrite or format quality - its about the outdated business models of multinational companies determined to make consumers want what they can provide at maximum profit

Cheers, bad_vlad