[william]

Very helpful, you're showing me how the pieces relate that I've found randomly scattered all over the internet.

I'm reviewing all the info you provided, but have these questions now:

DV format--My dv format discussion seems to have implied I intend to store on tape, which I do not (I don't know the standard interpretations of the terms I'm using); I mean to use hard drives and DVDs. My understanding is that if the video information is in dv format, it will be in "container" files, avi on PCs and Quicktime on Macs, which I intended to imply by saying "dv". So, I understand the choices for digitally archiving are: uncompressed data, dv in a container, and high bitrate MPEG2? How much is lost in the dv or MPEG formats, and if I wanted the uncompressed data, how would I get it? Which are easiest to work with in the future, when the urge to edit strikes?

VCR--I saw the list, and did a quick search for the JVC HR-9800U, without any luck. In my earlier forays, the Panasonic AG-1980 was praised to the heavens, and sounded like a single source solution, but I couldn't find it either. And then there's the problem of knowing if a used machine has problems, particularly (I understand) with the heads. How does an outsider go about a successful search, know the thing will work, and what are reasonable costs?

Camcorder (Sony DCR-TRV730)--I was confused by your reference to my camcorder playing back tapes "quite nicely as analog-out". According to its manual, it has a "signal convert function"; input from a VCR (RCA or SVideo connections) and output directly (no tape) to the computer (with iLink=firewire) which I assume produces the same files as if from a tape, i.e. avi. So, I was thinking, IF I have a good VCR an option would be to use the camcorder for capture. Am I missing something?
It will obviously output an analog signal, for playing tapes on a TV, but would I want to use that?
For comparison to other options, I would like to know exactly what processing it does, TBC and anything else, but that's not something the manual specifies and I don't know how to find out.

Mac--The Mac is a G5, 2.16Ghz Intel Core 2 duo processor with 4 MB of L2 cache per processor and 1GB of memory. Won't take internal cards, although the "genius" did suggest an El Gato with a USB connection. It does have a FireWire bus, which, I hope, means the camcorder could do the capture and would produce Quicktime files. Background: The Mac is my brother's (will die for Jobs), and this project is to preserve his video and let him work on it when he can. I'm not disinterested, as I have D8 and VHS-C tapes that need the same treatment, but have PCs at home.

I will be reading the references you mentioned, and need more time to absorb them, but thought I could cover the above in the meantime.

Thanks,
William