Yep for playback, I agree, you don’t need more than 16 bits/sample or more than 44.1k playback rate. The vast majority of humans can’t hear beyond that, at least through the air… I have heard that it can go a lot higher via direct bone contact, but that’s not relevant to playing back music anyway. I just wanted to help clarify that there are real reasons to “sample” (record) something at 96khz or higher, or at 24 bits/channel/sample, but that the reasons easily get lost, and sometimes artificially or intentionally misrepresented for marketing purposes.
I kinda relate this to sporting equipment or cars or other things people buy. Like, nearly everyone on a road bike is riding and wearing race gear, which is uncomfortable, while very few people are actually training or racing. Or, people often buy cars or computers that are far faster or more powerful than they need. Those things get rationalized similarly, with claims that the extra is necessary and makes a difference, or fears that it might be needed someday, and little reflection on the downsides.
I kinda relate this to sporting equipment or cars or other things people buy. Like, nearly everyone on a road bike is riding and wearing race gear, which is uncomfortable, while very few people are actually training or racing. Or, people often buy cars or computers that are far faster or more powerful than they need. Those things get rationalized similarly, with claims that the extra is necessary and makes a difference, or fears that it might be needed someday, and little reflection on the downsides.