Tape works better in a vacuum, because yes, air sticks to tape and forms a thin layer between the adhesive and the stuff you want it to stick to. Of course, the reason WHY things are sticky in the first place gets into all kinds of weird physics, materials, and chemistry issues. Just ask a gecko.
Also, that "100 MPH", "150 MPH", etc., tape thing is something you hear about in NASCAR a lot, too, because they need tape that can handle the speeds, which standard duct tape can't.
I'd say we go through nearly a roll of duct tape per shoot (strapping down legs of tripods, etc.) when we televise local high-school sports. We save the gaffers for specific places where the non-stickiness is required to not damage property because compared to duct tape, it's expensive!