I'm not really a vinyl buff. As a bassist you can't really be, because the bass frequencies are just more audible on a CD. When I heard the - not very well produced - early DP albums (pre-Gillan), I rubbed my ears in wonder at the bass drum patterns I was hearing from Ian Paice for the first time. I buy vinyl then and now, but I hardly ever play it. Plus I have a lot more rare stuff on CD now than on vinyl.
In the CD booklet (it's an Australian double CD of all their four studio albums, decently remastered), the tasteful cover you mention has a whole apologetic page devoted to it.
In hindsight, all band members regret it and no one wants to be responsible.