I don't think anyone knew what all the Dolby buttons did. Probably Thomas. Mostly a bit vague about the metal/chrome button too (everyone was disappointed that pressing metal didn't turn up the volume to 11 and blast out Run to the Hills). You could by more expensive tapes, I don't think anyone did, not when you could get a good deal on a five-pack for TDK C90s from Woolies (my entire childhood came from Woolies, from the record counter to the pick-n-mix). Don't buy the C120s though, they're the ones that go safari around the innards of your tape deck and have to retrieved with the handy pencil you kept to hand for just such situations.
Let's not get to the Amstrad stereo, enough lights to pretend you were driving a sonic Enterprise, and a cool smoked glass door. Modern hifi doesn't come close.