VHS and LD were never really in direct competition with each other. The average consumer didn't know it existed, or confused it with RCA's CED videodisc format.

Laserdisc carved out it's own niche with the early home theater crowd. That lasted until DVD came along, but just about everything DVD is today is because of LD.

Digital sound, Dolby Digital, DTS, letterboxing, commentary tracks, supplemental material, even anamorphic widescreen all first appeared on those big shiny discs.

Laserdisc recorders did exist. But only in the expensive realm of professional broadcast gear. A blank disc could cost hundreds of dollars!

Lucasfilm's famous Editdroid system used LD too.

I should mention many VHS decks made in the late 90's onward have "quasi S-VHS playback", although it wasn't often mentioned as a feature. Simply put, they can play S-VHS tapes back but at regular VHS resolution.