Nothing prevents you from using open source software with LTO, which is a multi vendor format. You can read tapes written with an IBM drive with a Quantum drive...
LTO 8 tapes are 80$ or so, formatted as LTO8M in a LTO9 drive they hold 15TB uncompressed. LTO7 are like 30$ and hold 9TB uncompressed in LTO7M format.
LTO 8 tapes are 80$ or so, formatted as LTO8M in a LTO9 drive they hold 15TB uncompressed. LTO7 are like 30$ and hold 9TB uncompressed in LTO7M format.