Unlike the days of old (when it was only feasible to make a mixTAPE, unless you cut one of the odd acetate comps or had a custom record made as was done in Iran back in the 60s), you are not locked into a format these days to make a custom mix album.
Mix CDs have been done for well over a decade now and ordered mp3 playlists can be created.
Listening to music on “random” is boring (and occasionally interesting).
A curated compilation means more (even if you mix it just for yourself).
I remember burning music CD’s, people wanted this song and that song from a different band etc.
I stick to just a few artists. Put three CD’s in my old player and let them play. As far as I’ll go “mixing” is if I put in an ELP cd between two RUSH cd’s!
I’m very much a believer that the artist created the album as a whole, and listen to it that way.
I think I still have a couple of old mix tapes up in the attic that a girlfriend gave me 30 years ago! IIRC I liked one song on it.
I love random.
I have 85GB of music at present. I love the fact that as I'm sitting at my computer working, anything at all could pop up. It might be Bach, followed by Sons of the Pioneers, followed by Rage Against the Machine, which in turn is followed by Anonymous 4.
I never know what's coming up. Occasionally a particular tune will put me in the mood for something, and I'll queue up a few specific tracks, followed by more randomness. The range of my musical tastes probably helps this a bit, as I'll listen to almost anything once. Heck, some things, I didn't care for the first 5 times I heard them, but they grew on me later. :-)
I have some SD cards that I use when travelling that have weighted trends in them, but I mostly just dig randomness.