The Cassette Deck Repair Odyssey: Is Tape Worth It?

It's been many years since I last used cassette tapes. Now that they're starting to gain popularity again, I gave them another shot -- but does the experience justify the cost and effort?

Thanks goes to Business Casual for sending some tapes my way:
https://businesscasual.biz

3D Blast makes some super fun vaporwave/future funk:
http://3dblast.bandcamp.com

Sources:
Japanese WM-R202 ad: https://bouya.officew.jp/tc-cf-tr-cb-...
New replacement Walkman belts: http://www.fixyouraudio.com
Best Buy blank tape ad: https://imgur.com/gallery/Pu3Vf
Cassette sales by year: https://www.officialcharts.com/chart-...
GPX cassette player image: https://www.ebay.com/itm/GPX-C3110-PE...
Tanashin cassette mechanism footage courtesy Techmoan:    • The last cassette mechs & Aldi's 2019...  

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Music: "Mexico", "If You See Her", "Born in the 90s", "Call Waiting", "Boat", "Melting Sun" and "Bursts of Brightness" by Epidemic Sound (http://www.epidemicsound.com).
Featured music: "Talk To Me" by 3D Blast (http://3dblast.bandcamp.com).
Intro music by BoxCat Games (http://www.box-cat.com).