Ever since buying a second hand Ferguson 3V22 back in 1980, I have only bought brand name tapes. I still have the first tape I bought, an Akai E180.
It cost an eye watering £5.99 back then
It still plays fine today, as do most of the tapes I bought in the 80's.
I started buying premium tapes in the late 80's for my new Panasonic HI-FI machine, the BASF and TDK tapes gave excellent results.
I was never keen on Memorex, and the Scotch tapes were of variable quality.
Maxell were a good all round daily use tape.
I still occasionally use my newest machine, a Panasonic VHS/DVD recorder with built in freeview. I have a large stash of new Maxell E180's bought for £1.99 for five!
Mark