As much as I applaud your idea of getting into analog tape recording, I have to admonish... Getting into analog tape recording, today, is like getting into any other "no longer supported" thing(Film cameras, carburator rebuilding.). There is, first-off, no tape, no film, no cars that use carburators... There are no parts, no local experts, no major companies building "new" things(And making most of their R&D budget selling most of it to consumers or "wanna' be's"!) - and it can cost alot of money! Analog recording is, today, at best, a "niche" market. If you are prepared to do alot of work to "fit in" to the niche, so be it. If you just want to record and you think 2" tape will be some sort of salvation, or even the slightest bit "better"(It may BE - though I have lots of doubt - if you can ever learn how to do it and find what you need to do it with?), your time and your money may be better spent updating Protools, or something?
TG