Can we finally put Reel to Reel out of its misery? Put it to rest people.

I am not saying that anything should go away.  I am merely pointing out that the OP has NOT made the case for putting R2R "out of its misery" and that if there is any logic at all to his argument, it cuts against cassettes because they do not excel in either convenience or sound quality while R2R DOES excel at sound quality.

I don't currently maintain either tape formats, but, I certainly don't want either to go away.  I think it is great that people are happy with whatever they are happy with, I know some people still love 8-track; to each, his own.  I like, and use gear that is truly ancient--tubes that are 60 years old, and a midrange compression driver that is 80 years old.  

Sony Elcaset? Far more obsolete than RtR!
"The system was technically excellent, but a total failure in the marketplace.."
"No pre-recorded Elcaset tapes were produced and the machines were withdrawn from the market after only a few years.
When Sony pulled the Elcaset from the market in 1980, the remaining equipment was sold off in Finland for bargain prices."
https://obsoletemedia.org/elcaset/

So the OP and other members of his cult are out to “cleanse” the world of technologies they personally find inconvenient. How thoughtful of them! ?!? Yup, I hope that type of people never get the chance. Next thing, all “non-essential” activities would be banned in their utopia. 

I thought that having MiniDiscs and DCCs laying around was perverted enough, but you guys are making me consider Elcasettes.

Now, when R2R technicians are allegedly not impossible to find, does any of you know a technician that would dive into fixing one of the Unitra (Grundig license) machines? I do not think it is even broken but if someone would give it a clean bill of health, I may revisit some old tapes. Wish You Were Here and such.

vinny55,

Sure, put the R2Rs in museums. Those same criticisms can be made about other mediums as well. So what then, donate our tube equipment, cassette decks, turntables and CD players. To quote John McEnroe, "You can not be serious!" And then what, just streaming and downloads? No thanks, not for me.

I hope your tongue is in your cheek.