"I find it surprising that NW doesn't have a utility to make such a copy. 
According to my boss, even ArcServe had that capability, years ago, before 
we started using NW. "

Do not forget that even such routine would exist, the result would never be the 
same.
Assuming you have a source tape which have been physically (almost) filled.
Due to excessive write errors on the copy tape - which you will not even become 
aware - the result would be that the source tape will not fit any more onto the 
destination of the same type. This would also be confusing.

IMHO using logical pools is much more flexible than dealing with physical media.

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