Good paper lasts longer and it passed the test of time.
That's why my office only uses microfilm to preserve our old documents. I am a records manager and oversee the microfilming operation in one office in our county courthouse. They tell me that the newer microfilm has a shelf-life of 500 years if stored properly. The technology to read microfilm is so simple and will always be available. We have considered scanning/microfilming, but the equipment is very expensive. I'm hoping that we will be able to do that eventually - it would certainly speed up the process!
We have to be able to dispose of records but I would refuse to throw them out if they were on disk-only. Heck, I have computer games from five years ago that I can't play on my newer computer!
// They tell me that the newer microfilm has a shelf-life of 500 years if stored properly. //
Unfortunately, a lot of stuff on microfilm is barely legible even when new. As for long-lived storage, how about daguerotype? That's stored as metalic mercury on metalic silver, right?
Good paper lasts longer and it passed the test of time.
Entropic undercurrents.