My DVD deck remembers the last played position of all the disks I've ever inserted into it.
For example, I was watching Jay and Silent Bob a few weeks back but never made it to the end of the movie. I stopped it and since I was watching it I've had cause to use the deck to record some stuff and watch other movies. I put Jay and Silent Bob back in the other day and it started playing from where I left off.
Clever things these days
VHS is a vile format and does need to die. Progress please! Rewinding and fast forward that doesn't happen instantly is terrible. And don't even get me started on picture quality. And no, VHS won't last for ever. Leave tapes on your shelf long enough and they'll degrade.
Yes, that'll happen to DVDs too, but meh, VHS won't survive eternity like some are claiming.
And the disk drive in your Sky+ might fail. NEWS FLASH, IT'S A PIECE OF CONSUMER ELECTRONICS! Stuff dies. Use your nice warranty and have it replaced and quit whinging. Your VHS deck is never going to fail I take it? Never ever going to have a tape wrap itself round the heads? I see.
Oh noes, copy protection. Just keep the original safe? Put the disks back in their box and keep them scratch free? You shouldn't have to copy a DVD. Using a DVD recorder , especially with a hard disk inside, lets you copy whatever the hell you like, that you've recorded.
VHS is rubbish, stop living in the past.