DVD aspect-ratio questions

[weirsbaski]

Couple questions I can't find the answers to-

One, there's only a few standard dvd ratios (for NTSC: 720x480/704x480/
352x480/352x240), right? So how do so many commercial DVD's get away
with 720x404 (at least that's the size Quicktime reports)? Doesn't this
violate some fundamental rule? And how do so many programs get away
with creating 640x480 DVD's?

Two, in the mpeg files, is the aspect ratio of the final image specified
independently of the resolution of the mpeg file (using a 352x480
resolution can be 4x3 when viewed, by squashing the pixels into the
appropriate rectangular shape, for example)?

[FOO]

Commercial DVDs don't get away with that . Quicktime is confused.

There is a storage aspect ratio , and a separate Display Aspect Ratio
If the DAR is 4:3 a 352x480 and a 720x480 will look the same on playback.