John, can I ask how you know that the Waif's CD was a CD-R?   I have a copy and I am 99% sure that it is a manufactured CD.

I do receive CD-R's from independent artists for my radio program. I can only think of one CD-R that wouldn't play on the air, but the disc was scratched, something that could happen to any CD.

There are a lot of urban myths surrounding CD-R's. While it is true that they are burned as opposed to pressed, they should last a lifetime if you take proper care. This assumes that you use a decent disc in the process. The early CD-R's were made from cheaper material and they could be faulty.

Most CD manufacturers require a minimum run of 1000 pieces. With the printing of inserts, jewel cases, shrink wrap, etc., you should be paying between $1 to $2 per disc.

CD-R's are actually more expensive in large quantities, which is why I find the Waif's story hard to believe.   CD-R's are fine for artists who think they will only sell a dozen or so.

The investment in a professionally produced CD is not as huge as it was 10 years ago. Frankly, if you do the math, you should be able to sell 100 discs and turn a profit.