Why no interest in reel to reel if you're looking for the ultimate sound?

That is a rich mans format, everything about it is expensive. I have come across some great deals on the upper end tape decks and have had to walk away. I know how good they sound and they really are sexy machines but I'd rather save the money for other stuff.
That said, if a nice one landed in my lap and was in working condition, I might keep it for awhile just to admire it and play with it. I grew up with a nice Teac R2R a neighbor gave me and used to tape off the air programs. I loved it but eventually gave it to my brother the musician so he could lay guitar tracks down and combine them. Worked great for that.

BillWojo

So that was Doug Sax. Figures. Epic talent.

D2D is indeed awesome. I have a couple Sheffield, haven’t heard in a while, will be a treat to play tonight. Not a lot of selection. Only one I recall right now has the theme song for that TV show with the cop with the parrot. Yeah that’s how long its been since I played it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HNWhVXcjV8

If I could buy those $500 tapes for $100, I’d be all over this. Even though that’s way more than I’d pay for a record. I do own a B77 but no prerecorded tape so it’s not used much.

As daveyf points out, the OP answered his own inquiry in his first paragraph. Many astute responses by experienced listeners here. In theory R2R seems a good proposition. The reality is the tapes are too expensive and choice is limited considerably in comparison to buying records, CDs or streaming options that are available and very affordable. Many happy music lovers are doing just fine with these far more accessible alternatives. Mapman succinctly summed it up very well. 
Charles

I tried R2R twice in the last 10 years by purchasing the Otari 5050 and later the pioneer tt-901. My goal was to create playlists from my vinyl albums and from special events. The Otari was awesome but only at 15 ips. I tried a couple of prerecorded tapes at speeds of 3 3/4 and they sounded like crap. At 15ips, I was going they tape at a fast clip and new tapes were hard to come by plus cost quite a bit. I thought I would purchase a tape project Tape to play on the Otari and the cost and the lack of availability of artists I like, this didn’t pan out.I later tried the tt-901 and recorded everything at 7 1/2 speeds and didn’t like the sound and I still had the expense and tape acquisition issue. Gave it up forever now.