I hear some CD-Rs rot after 5 or so years. I have some dating back to 2001 and those are still playing fine.

ummm...crotch rot = jock itch, basically

I have seen exactly ONE of my 5,000+ CD's fall victim to rot. It's these weird bronze metallic growth spots, almost like rust.

I'm thinking that if you store your CD's in moist, damp conditions you increase your risk but that's just a theory of mine.

Hell, I have cassette tapes from the 70's that still play fine.