Taking the ferry is still a great option for those with campervans or living in the Victoria region who would like to take their vehicles (or lots of stuff) to Tasmania. The cost analysis for our trip was staying in Tasmania at least two weeks for the ferry to be cost effective. I compared the ferry transport for us all against the flights/rental vehicle costs. If not staying in Tasmania for at 2 weeks it would be cheaper to fly and rent a vehicle, which is what we did… You might choose the ferry if staying for less time based on your needs, but it costs a lot less to fly on a budget airline and rent a vehicle for short stays.
Tip: AirBnB offers a good selection of accommodation at prices often lower than the hotels in Tasmania