> I know, shut up and just don't buy. I don't. But as long as people
> do, they will continue to do this. 
> Continue to treat the customer with disrespect, and they will 
> return the favor. 

Okay, more anger....let me ask you this....pretend you're either
a record label who has the chance to issue Elvis Costello's
catalog ...would you want to make sure you're doing something
that hasn't been done before, i.e. more unreleased stuff, better
packaging, etc., or would you just release the same 12-track
album that first came out on CD in the 80's? 

Or let's pretend you're Elvis Costello -- you own your masters,
you want them to stay in print, you want to keep getting a better
royalty rate, etc. What would you do? Only give the labels the
same 12-tracks to keep the album in print and only make the
bonus stuff available online to Apple iTunes? (for instance)....
Or would you try to keep your fans happy by giving them more
stuff...the tracks will get out eventually, illegal downloads or via
friends sharing the CDs or whatever...

Ok, so you're a fan -- why not burn the tracks from the Rhino
reissues and trade those in at your favorite store (or sell them
here like Rick Bilious does) and buy the new ones? Or keep 
the ones you have and get the added bonus material (if they
even make bonus tracks available on the Universal titles) from
your friends, or d/l them from Kazaa or someone....? 

I feel your pain -- but seriously, it's something labels and artists
have to think about.

Bryan