Or of course third option would be to slowly replace all three of the exsisting WD60EFRX drives I have with the newer WD60EFAX SMR version one by one. This option seem the least value as I would really be swapping out 3 good drives for no reason.

It's because any given amount of storage they sell is going to be cheaper to make with SMR as opposed to CMR, regardless if it's 1TB or 8TB, because less material is needed to manufacture it. SMR does result in lower performance, but it enables cost savings that are attractive to some users, and if used in the correct types of workloads, those savings are worth the exchange of gaining access to deeper capacity. However, using SMR tech for desktop and laptop boot drives will likely remain a topic open for debate, as their underwhelming performance in sustained random write workloads could hamper performance in standard operating systems.if you are still going around in circles and need direct consultation, we have just started providing one-hour consultations via zoom. You can find out more about them via the link below: Few of them are SMR and other are CMR drives. You can identify them here https://nascompares.com/answer/list-of-wd-cmr-and-smr-hard-drives-hdd/

Right now all (Seagate, WD and Toshiba) of the major manufacturers have been selling SMR without clearly branding them as such. When recording video (especially where most of it will never be watched), a corrupt frame or two likely doesn't matter (exception:Murphy's law states it will be a key frame at the beginning of the incident at the only time when the suspect's face is in clear view and several seconds gets trashed). Western Digital partners with a wide range of NAS system vendors for extensive testing to ensure compatibility with most NAS enclosures. Introducing the innovative Western Digital WD60EFRX-68L0BN1 desktop hard drive, designed to provide unmatched reliability and outstanding performance. With an impressive 6TB capacity, it offers an abundance of space to store your valuable data, media files, and important documents securely. Enjoy fast data access and transfer speeds with its exceptional 5400RPM rotation per minute, ensuring efficient and seamless operations. The SATA interface guarantees seamless connectivity and compatibility with various devices. This 3.5-inch device is easy to install in any desktop setup thanks to its sleek and compact design. It is also highly reliable, durable, and performs exceptionally well, making it a great choice for all your storage needs. Capacity:All Red Labeled Western Digital are top products for storage/NAS/SAN purposes and this drive is no exception. Also noticed that the 6TB is a bit quieter than their 4TB predecessor. It's an amazingly good product and an extremely good value for money. Western Digital, ALWAYS!