Well with a motorized adapter I'd be afraid of damage from the motorized parts, not to mention the chance of battery leakage on both the tape and my VCR. Sure, it makes sense, and the manufacturers probably put warnings on the adapter, to remove the batteries when the device is not in use, but how many times do people remember to take the batteries out?

But with the non-motorized adapter all you have to remember is to take your time, and don't try to do a quick jam and push.

It really comes down to the build quality, not the presence of a motor or not. The CP7U adapters are very, very good.

If you're worried about battery leakage,
- don't leave a tape in it
- change the batteries every so often
- remove batteries if not using the adapter for an extended time

I'd be wary of Maxell adapters, as those are not made very well. I think that's the one that Walmart used to sell.

Well I find the Maxell adapter to be very well built. I don't know how many times I've dropped it (probably half-a-dozen, and it still works great.