>

Downsides:

Separate device, with all that entails
Harder to find reliable models
Can be expensive for more features (FLAC, Bluetooth)
Not as common to rip CDs nowadays 
Sometimes hard to find music files if you don't use slsk
Usually wired transfer only
ID3 TAGS ARE FUCKING AWFUL

I have two music files players.
Old Man Shouts at Cloud - More at 6 >

Spotify is easier than pirating >

and they're both ripping off the artists! >

Yeah it’s horrible the way Spotify forces artists at gunpoint into doing business with them. >

It kind of does, in a sense. Most people use Spotify to listen to their music, they lose exposure AND royalties (albeit less than deserved) when not letting people listen to their music on Spotify.
Not to mention their fanbase may get upset with the artist for not using Spotify since their music won’t be easily accessible.