Thanks for all that. I'm completely prepared for the fact that some of the footage may just be too far gone.
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Reading the reviews on videohelp.com, it seems the DR-M10's one fault could be some error that people randomly run into. I guess worst case scenario is this happens, and it needs to be sent back (so I'll have to check warranty things when I purchase).
I'll also update one of my comments by saying that most seem to report that it does playback dvd+r. I wish it had divx support for kicks, but it's not an issue, just thinking outloud.
I'm still reading more on the Pioneers and LiteOn/ILO too.
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As for the mpg splicing, here's what I'm looking to do:
1) get a tape onto dvd - there's my backup
2) get that dvd onto my machine as one big mpeg
3) use Womble/mpeg editor to splice up that mpeg and save out smaller sized mpegs
Then down the road I may use the mpegs on another dvd. Currently I use the mpegs I make to easily piece together a dvd (each mpeg is it's own chapter). I forget the name of the program I use, I'll look it up when I get home, but I like it a lot as it's easy to import multiple mpegs and they default to each being a separate chapter (and I find the menu very easy to edit). I have only one request for the developers of it (I sent it in, but they told me it's not currently planned): possible sound balancing when using multiple mpegs. The reason for this is - if I make render some video as an mpeg-2 and few other people do, and we swap (without planning beforehand), it's rare we all hit the same sound levels, and it would be nice when putting these all on one dvd to have no sound issues. Can Womble handle that? I can just lower/raise the sound levels on the mpegs that differ from mine if that's the case.
Oh - and thanks again
