Yeah. SSDs are more than viable. Discs as well. And having to include media price in a game gives that bit more pressure on the developer to prefer a less obscenely obese game package.
Making physical a necessity (at least for a "premium" feel and package) will make your online downloads take up less space!
When you're driving a truck for months on end on cruise control, you have less work to do: look in front and steer. Time can get a bit relative.
6 minutes pass when you feel like it was only 2. Not a cardinal mistake.
Or the other guy decides to speed up.
And especially if you drive a route where you have to wait for hours on customs. The waits get really long so of course 15 minutes feel like 5 sometimes.