I was actually in a local store for some blank DVD's at the weekend and noticed a DVD recorder for under $140. At that price, I couldn't resist and it works suprisingly well.

Records from both cable and satellite using s-video with no problems, and it also has component out.

Certainly the PQ doesn't touch the better DVD players, nor is it HD, but I think it's a reasonable alternative to a vcr, and it's a decent machine for the money.