I bought a Sylvania branded top loader in 1983, electronic controls but a wired remote with only a pause function, it was priced at $500, the acceptable price point at the time for a 22 year old still living with his parents with a little surplus cash.
This was at a time when rental tapes (from the only place in our small town who had them) was $5, $7 or $9 a night, depending on how fresh they were.
Blank tapes were outrageous, maybe $12 or $15 each?