I was having a short email conversation with Bob Mould yesterday about the cost of digitally distributed music. I mentioned that I wasn't willing to pay as much for a download as I was willing to pay for a CD. He had an interesting argument:

Quote:
Digital distribution should also not diminish the fair market value of art, despite what the "new world" arguments would say. Paintings and sculptures don't cost less because FedEx is cheaper than a door-to-door trans-Oceanic delivery.

Now there are obvious counterarguments to that, such as the physical medium argument, getting lossy compression, lack of cover art, percent of profit going to the artist, etc.

But his point was not one I had thought of, and I think it's worthy of consideration.