Would vinyl even be invented today?

It's 100 year old technology that peaked over 20 years ago already.

NEw records are being made but prices are high and quality control questionable. Nothing major new in site, though prices for new records and capable players continue to go up and newer alternatives get better and cheaper. So there you go.

I bought my turntable back in teh 80s to preserve my investment in records at that time and that has worked well. I still buy old vinyl in good shape on teh cheap from time to time and an occasional collectors Item that I must have for a premium, but if I was not an old guy who happened to colelct a lot of records over the year, I would not bother any more frankly.

No
If I was to start from scratch it would be Devialet or such like all the way.
Not only that byt new materials may mean that records/or the like will be made of something far more resilient - who knows - graphene or such like.
Not only that, but vinyl can only exist as it does with over 100 years technology behind it

Would the vacuum tube be invented today? I doubt it!

vinyl playback offers some unique musical qualities that are unavailable with the digital formats

You mean noise, pops and clicks?

With $100K turntables and $15K cartridges you sure as shootin' better have vinyl. Besides digital still can't get their act together. Sounds like dead people playing.