Anolog to Digital format transfer is important for many reasons, First and foremost would be that all analog formats are in the process of decay. This is why Digital transfer is so important and remakable, it stops the decay process in its tracks! It does this by virtue of it's format, a beam of light is used to transfer the information from a Digital disk or DVD so that there is no loss or decay in the information stored on the disk or DVD. The disk or DVD itself does decay at a very slow rate, much slower than say VHS video tape, but the information stored would not be affected for a very long time. The only maintenence would be inevitable subsequent copying onto future Digital formats, which would need to be done anyway. The difference being that the copying process would be a Digital to Digital transfer which would be cost efficient, quick and the information would remain undegraded over time.