First, I’d like to belatedly welcome you to AK.
The way you’ve framed your survey question seems to imply that the only option to CDs is “lossless FLAC files”, and the only benefit of FLAC files is “simplicity”. This misstates the options, and misstates the benefits of newer technologies.
Modern recordings offer hi-res audio, surround-sound, and audio/video – all enhancements over Red Book CD.
If the source of “lossless FLAC files” is a CD, then there is no improvement in sound quality. OTOH, most modern recordings were captured and mastered in high res (i.e., 24bit/192kHz or DSD). For modern recordings (i.e., recordings with a hi-res provenance), there are several options for hi-res deliverables (e.g., SACD, Pure Audio Blu-ray, 24bit/192kHz download, DSD download) that potentially can deliver improved audio quality to the consumer (assuming suitable playback equipment). Whether hi-res is an option depends on the music genre. Whether you can hear a difference in hi-res is up to each listener to decide.
IME, surround-sound helps to recreate the experience of the symphony hall. Surround sound is particularly useful in listening rooms where the main L&R speakers must be far part due to room layout.
Video it is essential to ballet, and an important part of opera, and can be enjoyable for a classical concert. Moreover, video is very useful for putting an opera’s libretto on the TV screen.
I think that an important question is what is meant by listening to recordings “the way they are intended to be heard”. For the music that I listen to (classical), the artists are the composer, conductor and musicians, and the “work of art” is the live performance. “The way the music is intended to be heard” is the live performance. IME, hi-res multi-channel recordings can excel in reproducing classical music the way it “should sound” – i.e., like the live performance. (The situation with pop music is different.)
Whether modern recording technologies are available depends on the music genre. If someone listens to recordings that are several decades old, they’re limited to what WAS state-of-the-art recording technology several decades ago. OTOH, if someone is open to modern performances, then modern technology benefits may be available. It all depends on what types of music you listen to.
Hi-res audio recordings (e.g., SACD, Pure Audio Blu-ray, 24/192 downloads) and high-definition audio/video (e.g., Blu-ray and Ultra HD Blu-ray) do not require anything other than a 2.0 or 2.1 playback system that has a suitable player. Of course, in order to enjoy surround-sound, a 5.0 or 5.1 playback system is required.
If you listen to only vintage recordings – that’s a personal choice. If you’re satisfied with CD audio quality – that’s a personal choice. My perspective is different. My answer to your survey question would be that CDs are nearing obsolescence – for me – because more modern formats offer hi-res audio quality, surround-sound, and audio/video, and these advances all bring me closer to the experience of being in the symphony hall. And that’s what’s important to me.
