True. But on the flip side, the LTO spec guarantees that this two-generation backwards compatibility will remain for the forseeable future. As the article ment

True. But on the flip side, the LTO spec guarantees that this two-generation backwards compatibility will remain for the forseeable future. As the article mentions, it's possible that optical discs will become unpopular and cease to exist completely. With tapes, you're in the same boat as a bucket full of institutions to whom archives are VERY important. That's a big plus!