so, i recorded a type 1, normal bias, on a 70s cassette deck, and it sounds FANTASTIC

I also still listen to prerecorded tapes from the 80's primarily. They were the format.of the day. Have a big Pioneer CTF 9191 that plays beautifully. All in on analog, whatever the format, and they have held up remarkably well. And I have scored some real nice finds at my LRS for like a quarter!

ozzy62,
You beat me to it!

This is a gross exaggeration. It might sound ok at best. If you want excellent that will be different tape, and if you want fantastic - that will be better reel to reel deck.
Pre-recorded tapes sound inadequate but sometimes are listenable.

" I recall some of the later Cassette Decks - especially Nakamichi - that had quite the technological extreme look to them and were pieces of art, but all cassette decks could eat your tape. "
I bought my Nakamichi ZX7 in 1984.  I still have it.  It has never eaten a single tape.  That might be because I made all my own tapes from LPs, and used only top quality tape.