Should I add the firmware to this lite-on driver and what will it do for me?

I've added it. I guess I have a 811 type now.

Does this record dvd-r also or is there a way to make it do so?

I think it does now?

Is there a way to make this recorder burn media that will work on my Toshibas sd4900 (dvd+r already works) svc391 (some of them work), sd9200 (None yet)?

time will tell. Nobody out there knows, I guess.