Biggest problem is the innerds of the VCR. The belts, pulleys, mechanical stuff has aged. I had 6 of the same model JVC vcr from the 1990s. None of them will load a tape and play it. If I take the cover offer, I can get a few to thread the tape, but then won’t eject.
So be prepared to do a complete overhaul to get any to work for you.
Biggest technology hurdles have been mechanical components in devices. As we are now in a moving-part-free world we will see stuff lasting much longer without fail — until that first EMP of course. Then we will lube the pulleys and insert the tapes to see anything play !!