I agree. I think it's hard to get a system to sound optimal on both sources. Vinyl lovers will optimize their system for vinyl playback and then may complain about their digital, digital lovers will optimize their system for digital playback and then may complain about how vinyl sounds.
i have to disagree. maybe it can be hard, but it's the only way i've ever looked at it.
i do realize that maybe if a system is set up for say. golden age jazz records primarily, with dense tone and fat bass as the character (not saying that is the right way to do that), then that will be limiting.....but that is an extreme situation......and a lazy short-cut approach.
in my system it's clarity, micro-dynamic life, and neutrality all the way, and it's how i want to hear all my formats. yes; the three turntables each have their signature sound, but i want that character to come through clearly without some compensating system artifact in the way. everything i have has been selected to be neutral. and i don't think any of my sources have system advantages. i use 75 to 100 digital tracks for quick feedback on changes, and 20-30 vinyl tracks to confirm them. and my tape should sound similar to the vinyl.
where i do agree is that you do have to be serious to get this to happen.
In terms of preferences, there is so much that can tilt the scale one way or another. It's what kind of sound you prefer, and even if unamplified live music is your reference, what kind of live experiences in which kind of venues and at which seating positions you have, and what your personal perception is of the sound at these live events -- no two persons experience the same thing the same way.
With vinyl playback you can also taylor the sound more easily to a personal preference; a simple change of cartridge for example, can do the trick.
And of course the type of music you listen to may lead you to prefer one format over the other. The digital "loudness wars" affect pop/rock more than other genres; in fact, on classical the dynamics and dynamic range on digital are often extreme, in a good way. Vinyl has its issues with having to hunt for great or at least good pressings in some cases, and so on.
i do think this part can be valid.......but more that to allow certain types of music to succeed in your system does push the envelope of effort and asset allocation. or maybe if you really love a certain type character then the gear that requires might be limited in other types of music. absolutely i've been faced with that situation......and did choose the most all around best performer while still appreciating the specialness of the more limited performer.