help with dvd writer purchase...which one?

[Coluph]

I'm sure this gets posted in here all the time...I'm comparing drives and I don't know what would be the better of the choices I have. I'm trying to keep costs down and have something that will make disks that I can play in my DVD player (JVC XVS300BK and hopefully my old Pioneer DVL-700) I am primarily backing up video tapes

I'm in Canada so I'm converting the prices to US for comparison purposes.

1) LG GMA4020B $109 after rebate 2x DVD-R 2x, 1x DVD-rw 1x, DVD-RAM 2x 1x, dvd read 10x max 2mb buffer, software package
http://www.digit-life.com/articles2/lg4020/

This is the cheapest drive I have seen anywhere...it doesn't do the + disks...but it does do the DVD-RAM disks. Is the + really that important...the disks in my area tend to be the same price for either flavour. Once the disk is written is there really any difference? I'm told a drive that can write at 1x will write more reliable disks. Speed of the disk writing is really not that important to me. Quality of the burn is.

2) Pine (NEC 1100A) $145 after rebate DVD+/-R 4x no DVD-RAM support, software package 2mb buffer
It does the +R media, cost is roughly $50 more, but does not do the DVD-RAM format at all. I'm a bit leary of 'pine' products...no support on this brand I'm sure.

3) LG 4040B oem $188 DVD+/- 4x 3x DVD-ram 2mb buffer...this drive seems to do it all. Not sure if it comes with any software or not. Could be just drivers.

4) Pioner DVRA06U $252 DVD+/- 4x 2mb buffer Ulead software package no dvd-ram
This is getting a little more than I would like to spend...is it worth it? I'm guessing the higher price is to cover the costs of the software that comes with this product.

5) Sony DW-U10A $186 oem DVD+/-r 4x 8mb buffer not sure on software. no support.

So out of these 5, I'm curious what people's recommendations would be. I think the cheapest drive would probably give me the most bang for the buck...and given how technologies change, despite what the other drives do I'll probably want a new one in a year or two anyway, so I'm wondering if it's worth spending the extra money for the +R format right now or not. Do the more expensive drives offer any better compatibility, quality of write etc? I tend to not buy spindles of disks because I need cases, so I'm not sure if cheap vs expensive media will become an issue or not. Basically I need a drive that will write good disks that will play in my DVD player properly without alot of tinkering to make it work. (done enoguh tinkering to get the capturing right allready)

[hoyboy]

I've had the Pioneer A06 burner for about 3 weeks now, and have used both Ritek 4x -R's and Princo 4X -R's with no problem. I have had LG drive's before, and one was great (my cdrw) and one would not work with my computer (dvd-rom), so you take your chances whatever you get. The discs I have burnt have all played in my old panasonic DVDA160 player, as well as a PS2 and a new samsung. I haven't tried a +R disc yet, might have to do that shortly

[Dubber]

I got Pine Dual drive that is in fact NEC ND-1300A, that writes to both +/-RW.
I'd recommend LG 4040B for the price you mentioned.

[freestyler]

1300A is a great drive. I have one and just love it. Hassle free burner

-Free

[Hardcoreruss]

I have a sony, no problems here whatsoever

[spiderman2k1]

I like pioneer