ABSOLUTELY doesn't have to be that way, Bill. You saw above where Hank says it costs more to manufacture a cassette than it does a CD (about a dollar in quantity). I spent 15 bucks on my latest CD, same as the first ones I ever bought. Back then I thought the price would drop as the sales volume increased but NOooo! At least the CD I bought last Friday has over 65 minutes of music and a fat booklet. It's Mike Seeger's "Southern Banjo Sounds" and I heartily recommend it to any serious folkies.