Having played with DVD authoring for a while, it looks like I may get a chance to put together a commercial DVD. However, the content will need to go on a DVD-9. Unfortunately, the outfit I will be doing this for is low on the technology front (meaning they have no equipment), and doesn't have much $$$. So I'm looking for advice on what stuff I need to purchase (or better yet, have them purchase) for me to produce the DVD.

For this first project, I absolutely need:
* DVD-9
* AC3 audio support
* Multiple titles
* Multiple chapters per title
[The above two need to provide about 200 chapter points.]
* End of chapter/title link

I anticipate future projects might need:
+ AC3 audio encoding
+ Two audio tracks
+ Conditional menus
+ Sound with menus
+ Motion menus
+ Subtitles

1. What authoring software is recommended?

Sonic Scenarist seems to be the Cadillac, but at $3000, it's out of the question.
Adobe's Encoder DVD is an option, but if I'm going to upgrade from Win2K to WinXP (spit), then it better be worth the pain. I've read the resulting images aren't quite up to spec.
I don't see how Sonic DVD Maestro can be an option unless we buy a used one, but they look like they go for >$3000 as well.

2. Will any old DLT drive work?

There are some on eBay:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2758709430&category=39978
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3434186061&category=11171
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=2758239645&category=39978
etc.

3. Are there any legal issues with using BeSweet to produce my AC3 audio for a production DVD?

If so, please recommend reasonably priced AC3 encoders.

4. In order to test my DVD during development, is it as simple as encoding the video at a lower bitrate, so that it will fit on a DVD*R, in order to test functionality, and then increasing the bitrate for the final product (plus setting the layer break)?

Are there any other "gotchas" that I'm missing?

[NOTE: Video and audio capture, editing, encoding, and graphic editing should not be issues.]

Xesdeeni