Since I've been working tech support, I'm not nearly as careful with CDs as I used to be. I usually drop or set them into place in the changer and the DVD player (NOT from across the room; at most a 1/2 inch above the tray). I'm like Peter in that I press the close button on the changer and the tray on the DVD. I usually make sure that they're lined up properly, at least.
On computers, I usually just drop the cd on the tray, and then shove the tray in. Or shove the CD in slot loaders. I totally mistreat my tech/installer CDs, but they're all copies anyway.
