FWIW I still have and use a Fostex FR2le, added a Tascam dr100mk3, which is smaller (supposedly better and has more options). Recently added a (used) Tascam dr701d for upto 4 tracks (the one with the hdmi connections) - I hear no difference between the two Tascams, dr701d seems very good to me.
But, when starting new these days, I’d get SoundDevices