My understanding is that, given the variety of video tape machines and differing video standards, 16mm film was the easiest way to distribute shows internationally. Everyone had some sort of 16mm telecine machine, but videotape recorder standards were all different. The downside was frame-rate sync issues, which were fixed in the olden days by slightly speeding up or slowing down the film. Nowadays it can be re-sync'd to the original framerate using compositing/resampling tools. Modern "AI" tools are pretty phenomenal at doing this. They can re-create missing frames to sync up odd frame rates, and you'd never know the difference.

I think "Were too expensive" is operative here. Blu-Rays are pretty cheap these days. You can pick them up used at thrift stores for a couple bucks each. If you deal hunt on Amazon you get get them for $5 new. Even UHDs aren't bad, especially if you buy in bulk. You can get the Alfred Hitchcock Ultimate Collection UHD box set on Amazon for $112. That's 14 movies, which averages $8 per film.

He was involved with Epstein because of money. Epstein could funnel money to companies and organizations Andrew wanted funded. Getting girls for his friends was a side-hustle for Epstein. If you were that rich and powerful, you don't to to some money manager guy to get a prostitute, you just fly to Amsterdam. Now if you were at a party thrown by Epstein and there were girls there, and you are a sleazeball, you go for it.

There really isn't a lot of evidence of blackmail coming out. There might be, but I haven't seen any concrete examples, beyond rumor and conjecture.