The deal with tape is the quality of the tape and what it's being used for.
Magnetic tape for digital storage is a great idea. It's a physical media that can be recovered pretty easy for one. The right kind of tape will last for 100 years AND can be transferred without data loss.
In the analog world Tape is still king. The problem has always been WHAT you can get on 7.5-30 ips recordings. When R2R was at it's height, you could find a LOT of classical or contemporary music.
But POP, Jazz, Rock and Roll, MOST Country western, wasn't on R2T.
SOME not a lot. I had about 35 masters 50 2nds and 50 or so 3rds.
Well they went with the 750 Fairchild, RtR (Otari) MC240s and C22 in a theft..
Guess what there is even LESS now..
I like a R2R simple as that. I like to record my own stuff and play it back.
I'm NOT a source snob. I use to get high quality recordings that I liked.
Who else is there to please? Were the recordings perfect? Perfect for me!!
Does anything else matter? Same with vinyl I really enjoy the old 78s mono and about 5-10 watts from a MC225.
I know they will be in heaven.. :-) Pop, Crack!.. Not to often..
Thank to the mighty Puffin.. All kinds of thing are possible pretty dog gone CHEAP. The new Decware ZP3/tape and the Puffin.. WOW..
Now STL KEQ-200 balanced big valve EQ for the Otari.. Double WOW.
Digital? OK.. I like it too.. I like ALL of it.. Including transistor radios, and Victrola's
Regards