In our case, only our fiddler worked from tapes. He kept us learning new tunes at practice every week until our repertoire got very large. Along the way we mostly dropped the tunes we had begun with.

I agree with Jim Dixon- what dancers respond to is the rhythm, far more so than to whether the tune is pretty or even accurate. I remember years ago when I still took it for granted that the backup was there to follow the lead, so if they played faster, I did too- but not so- the lead relies on the backup to keep the rhythm steady. At a dance it is essential that the backup realizes this.

We also used a piano a lot and then later a bass. I prefer a bass but either one will do. No, for me jigs are not easier than reels. Boom chick is a very natural rhythm.