Blockbuster has already announced, here, that they are going to "DVD ONLY." While you can still get VHS, when they wear out they're gone, and a popular one doesn't last very long.

The "discount" retailers here are dumping so many B to D grade VHS tapes, that they've started pouring them into bins in the middle of the floor so that you have to "dig" to see if there's anything worthwhile there. (There usually isn't). Since the bins are outside the "electronics" department where they could watch them, they also put "theft detectors" in/on the package, which your friendly cashier will DEMAGNETIZE, sometimes very thoroughly, for you when you pay up. Odds on whether the tape is playable when you get it home?????

There's no argument that DVDs do give you a cleaner picture, and better sound. The only question is whether it's really necessary all the time. The US "marketing mentality" believes that if any new product gets to more than 5 percent of the (sales) market, everybody must sell that product (and that product only.) DVDs have probably passed the 5% point for new sales. ALL (older) "competing technologies" will be "unavailable" to consumers in the US within no more than two years (my estimate), simply because no retailer here will stock them - then something newer will come along for them to jump onto.

John