Like that infamous “ET” torrent in 1982 where it involved a “pirate” sneaking a huge JVC camcorder (with a VHS reel) recording the entire movie in theaters, given this was before DVD’s existed (don’t even ask about pirate bay, those weren’t available yet). The same applies to “torrented” music, one would have a spare tape cassette recording the song played via the radio, that’s how they torrented content back then if they can’t afford an official copy.
Only millennials or Gen X who were kids back then would’ve encountered or witnessed VHS or Cassette “torrents” from either friends or family and often or not, piracy in the pre internet days was rife even before torrent sites were a thing. There are VHS “torrents” of TV shows or series (placing a camcorder which faces the TV screen with a spare reel recording the entire show (ads included), then used to fast forward upon replay.
Strictly speaking,a VCR is a video cassette recorder. If it doesn’t have recording capability, it’s just a player.
I don’t think I’ve ever seen one that couldn’t record, though.
I asked this question at an electronics store. I was told “technically that’s a VCP, Video Cassette Player”. I asked if they had any. They said no.
My understanding is that they could all record. It seems like the technology to play is just the inverse of the technology to record. Like how a speaker can be used as a microphone.