Yep. I didn't like them even when everyone had one and they were the only form of portable music... They just don't cut it as a decent hi fi source IMO. The best I've heard, and for which I'll make an exception, was the Nak CR7E which is simply in another class to all others IMHO.
I have a couple of up market Tandbergs (about £600 new in 1980!), a cheaper two head Tandberg and a NEAL 103 which needs a new pinch roller (the British NEAL is actually very good! For a cassette deck).
It must be 10 years or more since any of them was switched on....