IDK the idea that a photograph can be reproduced 10million times reduces the value of it ( to me at least ) to basically worthless. Its greatest asset ( reproduction ) is its Achilles Heal. When photographers like one of the Westons cut up their negatives their friends thought they were crazy. "Give the people what they want" again, its all about commerce... Sure make a 10 million documentary and family photos they might be artistic but they aren't "art"...
Getting back to the original post 1.5 months later, I don't think any of my work ( unless I am selling it to an archive ) has to be archival .. seems like a lot of work for no real reason other than vanity/ego...
Can't address your "vanity/ego" issues or those (purportedly) of "one of the Westons." Different strokes. I'm not at all interested in any of the Westons other than Edward (and of course the women in his life and his other subjects).
Personal friends trained at RIT have occasionally destroyed their negatives. Some have used that to turn corners. Painters do that as well.
Your Media images are only transient displays on my smartphone and monitors: whatever they began as (e.g. prints on paper) is irrelevant. They are not photographic prints. I "like" (or at least appreciate) some of them..some inspire thought.
That you personally see no value ("worthless") in reproduction while you purportedly "value" reproduction of work of various of your heroes (e.g. Soviet graphic artists) is an internal conflict that only you can address. Your personal valuation system is of no consequence to others...they do their own valuation.
Some of my current photos are currently "worth" a certain amount (defined by me and the buyer) because every once in a while I sell one. I know how much my day rate was, in ancient times (1980s) : $450 minimum, $650 if a little creativity was sought. I'm currently struggling with myself to price 13X19 inkjet prints for a minor local exhibition. Maybe $125 un-mounted. I'd rather give them away, and might.
Your distinction between "artistic" and "Art" is surely accompanied by your elevated pinkie finger.
Achilles didn't have a vulnerable "Heal. His foot had a heel. I learned that as a young teen in a US Air Force dependent's school in Newfoundland.
Nobody's work "has to be archival" unless they want it to be.