I don't normally consider myself a trend hopper, but when the physical media resurgence started popping off I knew I was in for a treat. With new tech surging in price, streaming brands getting greedier, and pride in ownership at an all-time low it was obvious something was about to give and I'm so glad it has. I do worry, though.
With all this rushing towards CD players, Blu-ray rippers, and retro handhelds, how many cheap plastic devices are going to make it into our carts, and eventually into landfill once the trend dies down? What if there was an ahead-of-its-time device that could scratch that itch for physical ownership without requiring the Temu factories to rev their engines? What if we could, rather than shelling out for the latest nostalgia tat, save older devices from their own e-waste fate?
