But if you wanted that type of sound, you could record it digitally. There is no reason why that type of sound has to come from a vinyl analog record. Is there ?
In fact one of the hottest selling audio plugin categories are "tape saturation" (which mimic 2-inch tape distortions, not that far from mimicking vinul).
E.g.: https://www.u-he.com/cms/satin
When it comes to vinyl, there's also other factors: the patina (crackle) etc, adds connection to the times you've played the record, the fragility and tactile feel, plus it's a physical, collectible artifact. Plus, at least for now, the fashion factor.
While a audio-file collection will be useless in 20 years (already is with things like Spotify giving access to most music), a good condition LP will mostly increase in price. In 50 years? A current pressing could be worth $200 or more (especially since most bands do small 1000 units or less vinul pressings).
Also, Spotify doesn't give you the same quality sound as an audiofile collection of CDs, due to compression
I think one way to see it is that it being in vinyl (with all the romantic, old-music-industry, analog etc ideas it conveys) is also part of the signal.
As in, the signal is not the pure musical signal, but also the cultural one (the vinyl being emotional, nostalgic, romanticized, fashionished, fetishised, etc).
>Also, Spotify doesn't give you the same quality sound as an audiofile collection of CDs, due to compression
That's just a matter of time and better broadband connections. For most people, given their speakers/headphones quality, it's more than enough.
There's also the joy and relaxation of kicking back and watching the vinyl spin on the table whilst playing, it's mesmerizing and hypnotic.
If you still don't get it then you probably also don't get why people run vintage/classic cars (why bother when - to paraphrase - you can get the same things as running a modern compact saloon as well - both get you from A to B, the modern compact probably more reliably so) or operate steam engines or collect stamps.
In my home office I have a fully working refurbished GPO model 746 rotary dial telephone [0][1], I use it all the time if I'm sitting at my desk. Sure I have a DECT and VOIP handsets that do many more and very clever things but I enjoy using that old phone. I like "dialing" numbers on the rotary dialer, I like the sound of its ring, I like the clunk as I replace the handset, I like the faint click it makes when you lift the handset. It's also ergonomically better than most modern phones because the handset part fits better around my neck and chin so I can talk away and have both hands on my keyboard.
I'm mostly a functionalist (to quote coldtea) but there are little things in life I enjoy for their aesthetic (as I perceive it) and nostalgic pleasures, in particular electronics and audio kit from the 70's (I was born in the late 60's :) )
[0]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPO_telephones#Type_746
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GPO_telephones#/media/File:GPO...
Another reason for me at least is that a lot of the vinyl I buy is directly from bands at their shows. In that case I'm getting the souvenir and I'm giving back something directly to the artists. It might just be gas money to get to the next town, but it's more than they'll ever see from Spotify.
What is art's core utility?