Well it is the same sort of, because the songs can then be put on CD's after they're downloaded, just that retailed artist CD's have more art content in terms of booklets, and CD cover art, some CD's have the thank list too, which is sometimes useful for an artist when he/she is deciding on things like labels, producers or masterer's. It's really two totally different offerings, and of course there's also the whole collection thing, where someone actually collects the retail CD's over hard drives with music.
It's really a matter of choice which boils down to the preferences of the listener. That's my view as an artist and a as listener anyways.
Edited: bushimdim on 22nd May, 2008 - 3:08pm