The BBC used to reuse tapes because the media used to cost a fortune. Every now and again someone finds a copy of an ancient TV program hidden in their shed.

The problem is that if a medium is reactive enough to record it is reactive enough to degrade. There is a stone cross on the Shropshire/Wales border that originally held a list of historic kings. If it hadn't eroded over time it would give us a clue as to whether King Arthur was Owain Ddantgwyn or a composite character.

In terms of historic loss of photographs I would not mourne the passing of the non-art form known as the selfie