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

For a long time, I thought the creme de la creme of Analog is vinyl, and nothing is comparable. Skimming through the posts on this analog forum, so little mention of the tape format as if it is inferior or didn't exist.
My post is giving a little love to reel to reel tape, a format that I really enjoy, and just may be the format that delivers the ultimate analog experience.

Most of you have heard of, but some are still unfamiliar with the presently produced tapes by the Tape Project, Analog Productions, and others. These tapes are a direct copy of the original master tape, and they are available for purchase to play in your home. You can't get any closer to the master tape than that!

Some have mentioned the limited titles available, and I won't disagree there. But too expensive? Hmmm...look around!
As I wrote in my earlier post, with reel to reel, the point of entry is around $2000 for a machine that is capable of highspeed 15 IPS, 2-track, NAB/IEC eq. The tape is where you spend your money in this format. But again, tapes aren't meant to replace any of your existing formats, it's there for you to enjoy occasionally in addition to your vinyl.  

@woflie62 " Admittedly, RTR with dbx noise reduction, his playback is of tremendously good SQ."

I still have a Teac A-3340S and when coupled with dbx and played at
15ips it is really good. It is boxed up and in a closet with 4 or 5 amps
and tapes and bunches of cables. I suspect that the Teac would need some service to be used again.  I used it exclusively to record records
and then just play the tape.  Expensive, you bet, but tons of fun.

Clearly some kind of illness at work. 

I used to sell RTR decks, back in the day. We had a Pioneer RT 1011L, at the store, that we used for demo purposes. We had recorded a bunch of direct to disc cuts at 15 ips on it's 1/2 track head assembly. Sounded excellent. For the purpose of high quality mix tapes, RTR is great. That being said, I'd rather listen to the LP's than even the best 2nd generation recordings. I think RTR is still a viable format for live and studio recordings. For pre-recorded music, not so much. Especially true with the expense and scarcity of new, blank media. 

If some of you out there want to dabble, there are some decks out there that make decent recordings for under a grand. The TEAC 2340 (7") or 3340 (10") are reliable, long lasting decks that had decent sound. Also the Pioneer 701, 707, 901 and 907's don't take up as much space, as some, and have direct drive motors, reducing the belt replacement issue. I have seen the 4 track versions of the Pioneer deck for under $1000. I have seen Revox B77's, several versions, for under $1000. Great sound, but needing a bit more maintenance than the Japanese decks.

I used to wish that tape would become mainstream but it hasn't happened - yet.

Every account I read or heard about stated the vast gulf between the original tape and the end consumer playback medium eg CD, vinyl, cassette etc.

Even artists such as Bob Dylan and Neil Young went on record to say what they heard on studio playback bore little resemblance to what was sold to the consumer.

Alas, the industry politics deemed it unwise to offer the consumer such a high quality format for whatever reason, but I'm guessing plagiarism must have been one, and sheer inconvenience must have been another. 

Oh well, perhaps one day digital will finally grow up and fully take its place.

I've heard R2R at Axpona and while it sounded wonderful there's just limited selection of music.