Yeah, they all seem to be between $2,000 and $3,000, and I can't imagine how these things could be much more complicated than a dvd drive, if they aren't simpler.
Open a DVD player then open a VHS player, the dvd does more complicated things on a tech level but VHS player is harder and more expensive to make.
Early gen drives are cheap on the second hand market, you can pick up a crummy one for under $100, tape usually included.