Are VHS tapes just as good , if not better , than DVDs really? (such as they last longer ?)?

VHS is worse than DVD. VHS has 320 lines resolution, DVD has 480. Regular VHS has an almost embedded chroma, and at best HiFi stereo audio. DVD has discrete chroma (which is why many DVD players have S-video and component), and can have 5.1 Dolby or DTS audio, as well as multiple audio tracks. DVDs have interactive features and random access. VHS does not have random access, and additional features are the exception mostly, rather than normal. VHS does stay where you left it, you can fast-forward over the FBI/Interpol warnings, and record over commercial tapes (try to record over a commercially pressed optical disc).