As for their durability cassettes are not as bad as their reputation. In fact I think I read somewhere that if treated correctly (kept in their cases when not used, protected from magnetism, heat, cold, and moisture) they can outlast CDs. I have casettes from the 1980s (a land before time audio play among them) and they are working just fine.
Some I just can't afford to lose, and its no surprise they're my favorites, considering some lengths I went through to get them. (Malte would remember that one time.
)
And the little loot I got from that one is still working just fine

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