[Heart-Rest]

"All of those you listed were available on 45s too."

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They're also available on CD's now.   The value of hearing the old original versions (which the folks heard like that back when they first came out) is more of a historical and nostalgic value (which also gives them their collector's value, as some of the originals are worth much more than a more recent version on newer technology with a "cleaner" sound).

An analogy would be the priceless, faded, yellowing, original version of the "Declaration of Independence" vs. a fancy replica (below) which you can get at Amazon.

[editor-surveyor]

They weren’t rough and scratchy like those Youtube links you posted.

78s sounded OK until about the 20th time they were played. The records were a hard material that lasted fairly well.

My Father, who was a professional musician in his youth, had a huge collection of big band and jazz, and they sounded clear, not scratchy.

He used to just use a needle two or three times, and then toss it. (this was late ‘40s - early ‘50s)