XL2, DVX, etc - which one will work with tapeless when heads die?
 

Simple question: which of the major contenders will not be compatible with tapeless solutions when the heads or casette assembly fail? In other words, who out there is using a tapeless because their tape tray was no longer working?

If I understand your question correctly, either camera should work fine if you want to use an external firewire drive as your tapeless solution. However, if you are looking to use something higher quality like SDI neither will. You have to use a camera like the XHG1 or XLH1 (which will record far higher quality tapeless thru HD-SDI to a direct-to-drive system than it will going to it's onboard HDV deck or a firewire drive).

In my experience (using Firestore external firewire drives) I would rather go to tape if I have an option. In my experience the drives are troublesome and tend to drop out far more than a good tape.

One other thing you may think about though- you said "when the heads or casette assembly fail." I have worked extensively with the Canon XL's for both shooting and editing and havent run into any problems with the mechanisms. They're tanks! The trick though, is to find 1 type of tape and STICK TO IT. Switching brands alot leads to different types of tape lubricant mixing and gumming up your heads. If you stick to 1 good brand and tape model, you'll do your heads a big favor. I have a friend with an XL2 who has only ever used Panasonic Advanced Master Tapes in it and he has NEVER had a problem and he has some MAJOR mileage on his camera.

Keep your heads clean and stick with one brand/type of tape you should be fine.