This is much faster, is far more easily automated and more reliable than tape. The hard drives, however, are in use every day. You'll know instantly when one dies. Many fabulous games can be played competitively between two people on a home network. The games have become so compelling that many teenagers are spending more for exotic computer equipment than they are for cars.
Games are the true high-end of the computer market.
And they need the fastest possible network connections. Add it all up and home networks are the fastest growing segment of the hardware market. You can install a network in your home for surprisingly little money. If you are going to use a cable modem or DSL, you'll need another network card, but your ISP usually provides one. As you can see, this isn't all that expensive, but it can be tricky to get working right.