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Will FFMPEG exist in 30 years? Will it still have all the same capabilities it has today? Will it run on modern hardware?

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I have more faith in a project like FFMPEG to be around (it's way too embedded in almost everything now) or a viable replacement. Definitely more faith than someone will still be around with a tape deck.

However, that's still not answering why you think HEVC (supported by some puny little company called Apple on all of their hardware) vs any other codec. It's not like they chose Cinepak or something else as ridiculous. It's the most modern codec with the longest legs of viability.

The most modern codec, which is patent-encumbered and supported mainly by one company. If Apple changes their mind about it in 5 years, everyone else might well follow suit. I don’t have concerns like that for open, non-bleeding-edge formats.

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