We seem to be getting off the main issue here. This should not be about which is the 'best'/ 'longest lasting' /'most indestructible' reel to reel - that alone could go on for months - but
which design aspects are realistic for a new machine.
For a proper 'reel to reel revival' which is of any substance, there has to be current production of machines which are a) suitable for mass market and the non-specialist user and b) are cheap enough to mass manufacture, whilst producing good enough sound for the domestic user.
In both a) and b), much though it clearly pains some here, that precludes new production of the likes of Revox designs, which were never cheap even back then. Some seem unable to accept the economic realities that would be involved.
The (rightly praised) solidity and weight of construction of said A77 are unviable for mass produced item aimed at today's domestic users, to say nothing of the unintuitive tape handling. There is no way Joe Average, who at most would have had tape experience of a VHS or mini system, is going to remember to go via the opposite fast wind before stopping, or wait until spools have halted before playing. Not a problem for us dinosaurs, but for the masses? Not a chance. With advances in transports, servos and logic/micro control, borne of the video recorder boom, there is no reason to use control methods dating from the 1960s. Instead, I maintain that it would be worthwhile looking at the features of reel to reels made in the late 70s and 80s, towards the end of the format's popularity, with all the advances in electronics that had been gained over the previous decades. Also, IR remote control is also what most people have become accustomed to, so logic control would be essential. Plenty of people control things today in their home via smartphones and tablets, presumably via wi-fi rather than IR, but that is at least something to consider IMO.
The idea of plates and swappable parts is interesting from the longevity point of view, but again, could add to the cost, and remember that today's society does not prize longevity anyway. If this was not done during the cassette era I doubt it would be viable here. Perhaps decent access would at least make for a service friendly product without adding too much to production.
There was a
chinese made reel to reel which used cassette tape on open reels. I wonder if something a bit more standardized (i.e. quarter inch tape, max 7" reels would be sufficient for domestic use) could be concocted form that basic design? After all, it made it to production so some important lessons may have been learned. The more usable Xindak which was discussed
here in 2010 never took off but maybe now it might stand more of a chance. Anyone know how much that retailed for?