A lot of variables and context at play here. There's a lot to discuss and some to learn with this subject.
I'm fine with downloading. More art needs to be included? Agreed, and it's a sign of misunderstanding, and probably other things, that causes artists and labels to not include art with bandcamp folders. Some do understand it and see it as yet another medium; not as a necessity, a forced situation, or a throwaway option. They're usually the ones that include art and are thorough in detail, just as they would be if selling a hard copy.
Andy (The Endless Blockade) said something on his blog that I found interesting. He offers his bands and projects "pay what you want" on bandcamp. He would prefer $3+ or $0. Not being familiar with bandcamp's fee structure, I guess it isn't worth it to the artist if someone throws $1-2 at an album because bandcamp takes most of it? The end point here is pricing. I'm not paying $5+ for files. Then again, I remember when a label would make $.75-1/7" and $2-4/LP after costs and royalties. If you think I'm giving $8-12 for a set of files, we aren't on the same page, and I feel you're operating from an old model of numbers.
I prefer digital at this point. I run a digital out on my tower to a digital in on my receiver, and my receiver has an onboard DAC (not a very nice one, but up to 24/96). I mention it because I get the best sound from lossless files. I want all-encompassing releases and reissues with the best audio possible, and I feel that is entirely covered with files. And I certainly admit to enjoying moving a handful of hard drives over hundreds of pounds plastics and print. CDs are a waste of label and environmental resources, but if a hard copy remains a demand, the CD is still the way to go. I won't go into it again here but vinyl...what a clusterfuck in 2014.
And then for backcatalogs, the online library is the smartest option. With ever-rising exorbitant postage and manufacturing costs, it strikes me as working stupid to burden labels and distros with trying to move, and pay for, physical product (*at the same time, don't congratulate yourself too much with calling 100 copies a worthwhile reissue). If a hard copy remains a demand, the data DVD is the way to go and 2nd to the online library.
I noticed an artist the other day, who has maybe ten items on bandcamp, was giving away most of their catalog, but then charging for a couple. Maybe that is a sharp way to go about it while striking an agreement with the audience. "I'll give you most of my material for free so maybe you'll still feel it a good value to pay for a couple." Maybe that is desperation, or maybe we're still feeling out the boundaries of consumerism of digital information in a culture so rooted in owning physical things.
