Bandcamp, specifically. I already buy music there and i don’t plan to stop unless the artists i like move somewhere else. Currently i have to be careful with my files and/or keep the download links for albums i buy if i want to make sure i never lose them (which i do). The main reason i might make an account is just so all those download links are in one place.
Given that i already use Bandcamp, do i stand to lose anything or give them anything extra by making an account instead of continuing to buy stuff without one? I skimmed their privacy policy and didn’t see anything specific to people who do or don’t have an account.
I don’t think so. Bandcamp, specifically, only really keeps tabs on your purchases (ostensibly something you’re okay with, since that’s the point), your shipping/billing information (saving this is optional), your name (no obligation to be real), and your email (mine’s an alias).
Ultimately, these sorts of things are all trade-offs we decide for ourselves, but by creating an account, you have an additional layer of protection against losing purchased music, as well as opening the ability to stream your purchases (I don’t use this feature regularly, but found it useful once during a power outage when the nas hosting my music was down for a couple days).