VHS tapes were still the most cost-effective and popular way to watch movies — it wouldn't be until 2002 that DVD players would out-sell video recorders. But in 1997, there were only around 100 movies available on DVD. Everything else was on VHS.

While some people miss tapes, no one will miss the anger of discovering someone taped over the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" finale, or finding out the tape hadn't been recording the entire time.