This is Canada -- We have a total of ONE T.V. network, and the same goes for RADIO.
I count several TV & Radio networks from the USA all illegally broadcasting into Canada. But you are right, if you are lucky you can get a good machine for a song.
The reason got into tape, once a R2R showed up for sale in Canada,
is not the $15,000 CD players, but all the DAC's and tweeks that seem to claim make your $35 CD player? sound like a million dollars. If digital & transistor amps are so good why are $500 line cords selling like hotcakes. Analog Tape for me, seems to be audio done right (barring sticky tapes), but only now have the speakers evolved back handle Hi-Fidelity. The Otari mx-5050 I have was some radio station spare.