I used to love sending and receiving Mix Tapes for all the reasons you mention, like a window in to the soul of the person who made it :) I remember the day that mix tapes died (for me), when I spent DAYS compiling the perfect 90-minute tape for a girl I had it bad for and she responded with her own "Mix Tape" that was just The Beatles White Album straight thru. Side 2 ended with 20 minutes of "Golden Slumbers" skipping on "Boooooooy, you're gonna CARRy that w-Boooooooy, you're gonna CARRy that w-Boooooooy, you're gonna CARRy that w-Boooooooy, you're gonna CARRy that w-Boooooooy, you're gonna CARRy that w-"

SHE HADN'T EVEN LISTENED WHILE MAKING THE TAPE!!!