dvd to xvid newbie Q's

[cnelson87]

I'm planning to archive my TV series DVDs (Battlestar, Stargate, Simpsons, South Park, Arrested Development, Dukes of Hazzard) to xvid on the 'ol HTPC. these files will be watched on both the computer and also out to TV. I plan on buying a widescreen HD-ready CRT (Toshiba 30"). I'm planning on keeping the ac3 5.1 tracks. I would like to keep the video at full rez, and the quality as high as possible.
I live in NTSC land.
My newbie Q's:
to de-interlace or not to de-interlace?
to convert 23.97 fps to 29.987 or no?
720x480 4:3 source to 640x480 xvid? or keep 720x480 and squash to 4:3 with mpeg4modifier?
720x480 16:9 source to 720x480 xvid anamorphic encode how??? or use mpeg4modifier again?
mucho thanks.

[celtic_druid]

No need to use MPEG4Modifier as XviD allows setting the PAR in the codec config.

Since it doesn't sound like size is too much of an issue, I would try encoding at a low fixed quant and see how it turns out.

Stargate I would imagine was shot on film, so I would encode at 23.97 progressive. The others I guess it is upto you. Encode interlaced and de-interlace on playback or de-interlace before encoding.