[nullc]

HTTP streaming is pretty much inherently high latency, or at least none of the software stack is particularly agreeable. I don't think it's fair to say that Opus was made for that purpose in any way that any other general purpose audio codec wasn't. (or even... vorbis really was made for that purpose, though sure you're better off using opus for it).

Lossless audio is unconditionally transparent-- you won't have coding artifacts, you won't have issues with the codec accidentally increasing the crest factor of the audio and creating clipping where there wasn't. If you have the bandwidth for it, why not?

So many people are using streaming in lieu of radio-- a true broadcast medium. I think any high ground to argue efficiency was lost at that point. :) making the streams use 10x the bandwidth? meh. Maybe convincing video sites to provide an option to turn off the video would be a better use of complaint energy: it impacts more people than lossless streaming and wastes a lot more bandwidth :)