Call me a Luddite, but I think were kind of in the golden age of DVDs. Local public libraries are kind of what Blockbuster used to be, except: no cost to rent.
Watching something without commercial interruptions nowadays is luxury.
Wait, what? Have all these streaming services really continued the traditional blast-you-with-commercials bullshit? The few times I've seen broadcast TV I just figured the sheer amount of commercials was due to the increasingly captive audience.
For the monthly price of one seedbox, luxury can be yours.
The problem with library DVDs is that people treat optical media like crap. They get their greasy grubby cheeto encrusted fingers all over them when handling them. Then they use them as coasters or throw them in a pile in the corner of their bedroom.
Many of the library DVDs I've seen are full of fingerprints, deep scratches, and other blemishes. I am not getting all that mess in my Blu Ray player, or finding out that it's unplayable 60 minutes into a movie.
While some of the more popular DVDs are in terrible shape, I have been surprised at how many we have checked out that seem to never have been watched. I'd estimate 9 out of 10 are either mint condition or have fingerprints that are easily wiped clean.
I suspect not many people check out DVDs anymore. Our library is great in that it puts all their new arrivals in one section.
Watching something without commercial interruptions nowadays is luxury.