Who else started on a multi-track cassette or even older? I had a Yamaha MT2X back in the day (late 80's - early 90's) It had a built-in six-channel mixer, EQ, and effects send/return connections. I think I replaced the rubber band a couple of times before I got Cakewalk.
When I was in the Air Force I used to record friends who wanted to make some demos of their stuff as well as my own things.