That's not my experience. In iTunes, set your iTunes Preferences -> General -> Import Settings to the MP3 encoder, choose your bit-rate/VBR quality setting. Then with one or more songs selected in the library, pull the menu File -> Convert -> Create MP3 Version.
That functionality has been around for many years. I haven't needed to burn CDs and rip to get an MP3 in ages.
Maybe Swordmaker can enlighten me as to when it first appeared?
But not obvious. Probably for good reason.
Anyway, I stumbled across it a year or so ago. Mostly out of desperation. Now I immediately convert any song to mp3. Also, there are a few songs from several years back that won’t convert. Probably pre-black out DRM.
When, which year? 2016? which ever version came out that year.
google search... per google this link is dated 2016.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/ht204310
Apparently, the media companies have lightened up finally and the blackout is over. BTW, I don’t sell or put the songs on the internet. Stupid and unfair. I do want play the songs elsewhere and not be locked down to one player.
I have a media player for the home that only supports mp3. Uses shoutcast and MIXXX (under Linux). I do not broadcast on the internet. Just home smart phones and players.
Same with my car and mp3 USB port (flash drive plugged directly into the USB port on my car) — no extra ipod,iphone with cable needed. Yeah!
And we have android phones. Interesting that we don’t use them for music players. Only my son does that.