Why no built-in TBC in 1980+ VCRs?

[DVtyro]

Originally Posted by Electronic M

In the consumer space it was typically only higher end S-VHS decks that got TBCs in the 80s and 90s, because it was an expensive feature that typically you would only go to after (or along with) the move to S-VHS. The people who bought S-VHS were the only ones who cared enough about picture quality to spend the extra on a TBC, and the number of S-VHS decks without TBC speaks to how many of the S-VHS buyers thought it wasn't necessary/worth the cost.

Sure, and these are the models I looked at. Again: how is it possible to get a clear freeze frame without basic TBC functionality? Did models with digital freeze frame had a TBC of sorts which was not advertised?