Not even considering HDtracks, look at the price differences of Amazon in comparison to 7digital; $13.99 for 7 CD quality FLACs vs. $6.98 for the CD or $17.99 for 12 CD quality FLACs vs. $13 for 2CDs with the same 12 tracks. I can't say for anyone else, but I can easily wait for 2 days to save $7 or $5. If it was the artist who was directly selling the digital tracks and therefore being compensated by the bulk of the price difference, then I wouldn't have a problem with it.

This reminds me of the only time I paid for mp3s. I was browsing on YouTube and I happened upon some live clips of Atomic Bitchwax. I liked the way they sounded very much, reminded me a lot of Danava. Found their website and saw that they offered a download of their back catalog, 7 releases, for only $5. Payment was handled though PayPal. They were 320kbps mp3s, but it was only $5 and it went directly to the band. I don't see these as CD quality replacements, but it was enough to convince to purchase their CDs and to go see them perform in person (they happened to be coincidentally performing locally the following evening when this situation occurred). This is also another reason I like Bandcamp, the artists get a larger cut per sale than if they were signed with a major label.

You forgot to add the shitty piece of software itunes uses and heaps of people *do not* want to use...