I’m all in favour of open formats, more power to the consumer, however I take issue with the implication of this statement:
“How will people become accustomed to a digital world in which you have to rebuy all of your software players and music catalog whenever a better format, player, or service comes out?”
People are already accustomed to a world in which ownership of music in one format does not entitle them to free supply of same in whatever new format comes along. Compare with Vinyl, ‘MC’ Tape Cassette, CD, 8-Track, 4-Track, 78’s etc. Nobody walked into a record shop and claimed their free copy of Revolver on CD in exchange for their old album.