So far as CD-ROM is concerned it is not vital that it have a long life -
just that its limits are known.
Once an image is in digital form it can be transferred to a new storage
medium with absolutely no loss . This is a quite different situation with
images on paper. Of course digital images could be stored in digital form on
paper if you really wanted to ensure the degree of permanence provided by
paper!
Back to the RC/fibre debate, my experience is that inadequate processing of
prints is a definite problem related to their long term storage. It is also
one aspect of the problem which RC paper has made less important (though it
hasn't disappeared even with these.) Many fibre prints are not properly
processed and will deteriorate for this reason - even some stated to be
archivally processed.
Peter Marshall
Family Album/Gay Pride - http://www.dragonfire.net/~gallery/index.html
Also on Fixing Shadows: ----------- http://fermi.clas.virginia.edu/~ds8s
Future Press and elsewhere... E-Mail: petermarshall@cix.compulink.co.uk