Why can't cd files from a cd be copied directly to a floppy for use as a bootable floppy disk? Instead, you must use a program such as "rawrite" to transfer the files to a floppy for proper use. Just wondering why? Ky

The files are actually copied more directly when using rawrite or in Linux and other UNIX-like systems, dd. It's easier for Linux to boot from a native filesystem like ext2, but Windows can't write to ext2 without 3rd part drivers or programs, so the solution is to use floppy "image files" which are to floppy disks as .ISOs are to CDs. One of the goals of UNIX is "everything's a file" so there's little difference between the file /dev/fd0 (your floppy drive) and /home/username/floppy.img

The image files contain not just the files but also the boot record which is stored right at the beginning of the disk, the same as a bootable CD or hard drive. Copying over just the files would not copy the boot loader as well therefore the disk would not be bootable. You could copy over the files and then the boot record from the CD but having it all in one image is easier.