Home video formats taking "two steps forward, one step back"

[bajor27]

Why do formats always seem to take two steps forward, but one step back?


LaserDisc -> DVD
Smaller/fewer discs and better PQ, but from lossless to lossy audio.


DVD -> Blu-ray
Better PQ and back to lossless audio, but no more anamorphic video.


Why can't we continue moving forward in all areas when we advance technology? What's the point if we aren't?

This rant is really just more about the non-anamorphic video on Blu-ray. I didn't even realize it wasn't anamorphic for quite a while, but it just doesn't make any sense to me why it's not.

Yes, I realize not many people currently have a setup or may never have a setup to take advantage of something wider than 16:9, but wouldn't it still be better to offer anamorphic?

I would imagine that it doesn't cost the studio anything more to produce an anamorphic disc than it does a non-anamorphic one, and it shouldn't affect anyone watching on a 16:9 screen, so again, why not just do it.

If it does cost more, I understand why they wouldn't do it, but I can't imagine it costing anymore. It should just be a setting you mark off then creating the transfer, encode, or whatever.

Since it would benefit some, shouldn't affect others, and shouldn't cost more - it seems like a no-brainer to me. But I guess that's why I don't run any Hollywood studios - I have common sense.


Also, I apologize if I'm incorrect about Laserdiscs having lossless audio, but it was my understanding at least some did. I may be confusing something regarding PCM though, but I am quite certain I've heard people said the soundtracks on certain titles were better on Laserdisc over DVD