Although it is unfortunately paid for software, you can use Red Fox AnyDVD if you have a copy already installed before it got taken offline, which will decrypt the physical media for you and allow you to rip them to your hard drive, you may need another third party app to convert it to the file type of your choice however, but I can tell you it does work, if you're concerned about the quality of media players and dwindling support for DVD, I would suggest making yourself a backup copy then keeping the decrypted version on your computer. The downside is AnyDVD is not compatible with Linux, there are probably some alternatives to this software however, you may have some luck using Wonderfox HD video converter factory and it supports HEVC codec for mp4 files.
I'm with you on that one, I disagree with people's claims about old isn't worth watching anymore, it's personal preference, I have the same opinion about generations of Transformers, My Little Pony or whatever other cartoon series. I still keep my DVD collection even with the problem of companies pushing digital streaming on people, it's planned obsolescence at its finest, and if DVD's were rendered useless by these decisions, they would be responsible for a large portion of plastic items being thrown away, just because, which cannot be good for the environment.