To me, the difference between the NJB3 and DAT isn't a sound quality issue, it's a matter of accessibility. I've recorded, mastered, and burned 50 hours of footage in one month (Sept 2002) using a NJB3. A DAT rig would have required TWO MORE DAYS of transfer time, two days I didn't have, not to mention $250 in tapes and $30 in batteries, more than I paid for my NJB3.
To a frequent taper such as myself, the difference in sound quality is moot when the recording format prevents you from recording in the first place, especially when the sound quality difference is almost negligible. I'd rather jam a Rode NT4 into a NJB3 and record twice as many shows than pay more to record less footage "better".