I can relate to idea of refusing to switch to a new version because it removes features or breaks usual workflow. By extension, I can understand the idea of switching to an older version after installing most recent one and learning its limitation, in which case it could be called "upgrading by downgrading".

However, downgrading the medium by going back to CDs, vinyls and CRTs as a way to run away from the reach of big tech corporations still feels like a downgrade to me. An upgrade over, say, Spotify would be something that solves these big-tech corp issues while keeping the same or close level of convenience, not going back to CDs.

If iTunes provides everything you need for managing music then good for you! However, getting "more intimate connection" to a music collection comes at a price of spending bigger chunk of limited time managing it, and I would rather spend it actually listening to music.