"As things stand, I'll always prefer CDs to downloads, due in part to their uncompressed format."

SamTherapy, You can download uncompressed sound file (aiff, Wav, etc) versions of tracks, say, through itunes, and burn them to disc and the result is identical to CD... one uncompressed lossless track will consume as much space as 5 compressed lossy tracks or thereabouts. If you want to store a million of them in your pocket, ummm, I think that might be included with the Hover-car that paul mentioned :)... although a 64 gig ipod can store quite a few uncompressed tracks. Probably the real difference can only be discerned by using a combination of nice earphones and uncompressed files: it wouldn't matter how pristine the file is if it's being delivered through a sub-par device.