>You could backup directly to tape using SQL Server backup, but you still need to somehow backup the rest of the files on the disk, so again, two step process.

You're making some sense now, but I see no reason for doing the SQL Server backup directly to tape. If the SQL Server backup is to a file (ie, relatively quick) and then the general backup comes along afterwards grabbing that file along the way, then I'd say what you gain with the backup exec feature is minimal. Perhaps in only the rarest of scenarios would it be worth the difference, so you're splitting hairs.