I use tar daily, so yes, i remember the syntax :)
copy files from a to b:
(cd /src && tar cf - .) | (cd /dest && tar xf -)
operations are easy :(c)reate, e(x)tract, (t)est
options the same: (f)ile, (v)erbose, g(z)ip compression.
the only illogical ones is bzip2 compression and xz compression with -j and -J
I think i can remember cpio syntax as well, though i haven't used that i a decade, but did use it quite often in my old sysadm job.
copy files from a to b by piping :
find /somewhere -print | cpio -o | (cd /destination && cpio -i)
or simply for all you kids:
find /somewhere -print | cpio -p /destination