LOL, yeah, I'm not interested in being talked out of it.  Just how to make my idea work.

Hmmmm.  OK Johnny.  Thanks.
 

If you are really serious you need this but it is not cheap:
 
http://www.endlessanalog.com/tag/clasp-analog-tape-recording-pro-tools-daw-integration
 
I have been there and done that and in the end I found there are other ways of getting that sound using tape simulators and also working with Harrison Mixbus.
 
Not sure what the situation is like in the US but the tape is very expensive here in Australia now.  There is also a fair bit of maintenance involved with tape machines.
 
Sorry to be on the negative side.  I admire you for wanting to do it though. I love tape machines too and still have 5 or more at home in storage. 

Couldn't I just use a mixer with stock preamps?

Couldn't I just use a mixer with stock preamps? I am not looking to win a Grammy. :)

yes it could be, but not all mixers have inserts or direct outputs. 
Here's a good one for ya! 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/MixWizard416
 

 
 

Allen and heath is a good one and perfect for such use.  You can probably find a smaller unit - Mackie or such.  This soundcraft has inserts for the mic inputs:
 
 http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/EFX8
 
Using a desk tho is the optimum method - you can bring in a softer signal and pump it up out to tape and let it do its thing.  Even without saturation that can work well for rhythm sections stuff - bass and drums and rhythm guitar.  It rounds it out and off, rolls off some of the highs so the rhythm instruments all jell together and the lead stuff pops out straight to digital.
 
If size is a problem, there are preamp only units, but they tend to be expensive.  Yamaha makes a nice 8 preamp unit for under a grand in $s.  Presonus has/had one:
 
http://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/DigiMaxD8
 
I don't know what one of their older units would go for but probably cheaper.
 
If you picked up the deck cheap you could get some mileage out of it.  Just remember you need a demagnetizer.  The demagnetizer needs to be a pro unit not a toy.  And cleaning fluid, denatured alcohol.  And a tech - even if you only have to pay him to teach you to align etc. He probably won't want to do it, paraphrasing an old Bible parable.  "Teach a man to align, you get paid once.  Align a tape deck for a man, and you'll get paid forever."
 
mostly have fun.
 
@

Those aren't bad at all.  I actually found a Allen and Heath WZ3 16:2 which has exactly the same specs a the WZ3 for under $500 on ebay.  I can live with that.
 
Actually, but those PreSonus Digimax are even cheaper on Ebay and would take up even less room.  I could use two of them.  Those aren't digital?  It says Analog on the back?  Just want to make sure that I'm not "defeating the purpose".
 
That size mixer would actually be just fine for me and I could totally make it work.  A "real" desk just would not be possible at this time, due to space limitations.  If this works, I can work my way up to it in a few years when I move to my house in CA with a building I am going to be using for my studio. :)

I plan on learning how to be my own tech.  You see, I have nothing but time as this is what I do for a living.  It would be important for me to learn about such things anyway - I'm sure I wouldn't be the first engineer in existence to have to be his own tech too.  I have never been one to ask someone to do something that I would not do myself.  Of course, if I get those Presonus, I wouldn't have to worry about that.

If it improves my recordings, than I am all about doing it.  I'm just passionate about it like that.  

OK, listen to this, I just picked up 2 of those Presonus units for $370! It is also reassuring that they are Class A preamps.
 
Looks like I can even sync these with my Saffire Pro 40's through ADAT too if I want.

When you say you can sync them through the Saffire if you want to...  I should point out that the ONLY way to get digital sound out of them is by connecting with the ADAT.  They're intended as input expanders for devices that have ADAT inputs.
 
The direct outputs on the back are indeed true analogue pass-throughs from the input preamps, so you could use them as the preamp front end for the Fostex, but you'll still have to patch the Fostex outputs to the line ins on the Saffire to get anything back into your DAW.