2009/5/3 Jussi-Ville Heiskanen cimonavaro@gmail.com:
I suspect the contrary. There were initial claims that CD's would be nigh impossible to degrade, and the truth turned out to be completely at variance with the assertions.
I don't remember those claims (although I wasn't paying all that much attention to the subject at the time), who made them? Modern CDs are far better than the early ones, as I understand it (although not good enough for this purpose, even without the issue of needing a reader for them).
I really think a proven track record counts in this actual case. Surely it would be useful to place those vellum records where it is known they have in the past come to no harm.
How well proven is the track record for vellum? Lots has survived, certainly, but how much didn't?
On the unconnected point of value of materials; really it would be much preferred if the material itself had as little intrinsic value as possible.
That is a good point.