Thats still useful. I don't know any audio recorders that could (for example) record several weeks of a students lectures without needing dumping. I would have loved that when I was a student.
Thats rubbish. You can get decent DAT recorders for less. You could use an ibook and high quality MOTU audio interface for the same...
Sorry, but as arguments go, that means you record lots and spend lots of money on hardware. It doesnt mean that you are skilled, knowledgeable or even correct... (I'm not saying you're not, just that your point is irrelevent)
People listen to recordings of music for emotional quality not sound quality. For most kids thats the most important thing. When you were younger, given no budget I think youd settle for a rough and ready recording instead of nothing.
A rubbish recording isnt likely to detract from a bands sales. A good one is. Both actions are illeagal, which is likely to cause the band most harm though?
If you are doing it just for the music why rant about something that doesnt impact your recordings? Why shout about what you're doing? Why put down things other younger, less well funded people are doing for the same reasons? Everyone has to start somewhere, and as for selling bootlegs, both poorly equipped and well equipped people do it. Your horse is way too high...
XLR connectors are used for connecting balanced line. Balanced line is used to reduce the effects of interference on audio signals over long runs not short distances. An XLR connector on the side would offer no improvement in sound quality. It would not mean the internal A->D's sound any better. It would not mean you would get fewer artifacts from recording compressed audio. Thats a really strange thing to say in the light of your previous comments.