"Everybody just liked it that way and it costs too much to change it now": https://www.exocomics.com/743/
replyNot always, for example original CD disks had capacity of 74 minutes to accommodate Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.
replyThat one also turned out a myth :) CD size was determined by Cassette tape dimensions (diagonal, human can still hold one in one hand) and that combined with conservative pits/lands/track pitch choice drove the play time.
replythus CD runtime was derived from something "what we had at the time".