I'm not sure the tar_options matter, since we use GNU tar.

pax will become tar one day.
   
   (Speaking of which, we should see about getting an update, my pax work
   included a fix to our compatability hack for GNU tar, but I also convinced
   them they had a bug, so they should eventually issue a 'fixed' tar that no
   longer requires that workaround.)

i believe our GNU tar is updated.