SilverWook said:

Widescreen VHS was a thing for a while before DVD arrived. (Using the same transfers made for Laserdisc.) Stores like Suncoast had special section for them.

I'd forgotten that. I remember a moment when I walked into Suncoast to buy the widescreen VHS of the director's cut of "Blade Runner".

He told me he wouldn't even think of buying it. He had a friend with a laserdisc player, and he could get better quality by recording straight from that.

I did leave with the tape, but I was amazed at his sales pitch.