FWIW--it is possible to make the Panny BD30 play non-Region 1 NTSC DVDs using the Panny region-free IR code hack; dunno if this hack allows the U.S.-spec BD30 to play non-R1 PAL DVDs since I don't have any to test...and even if I did, I don't have a 50Hz-capable display to view them anyway. Regardless, I have verified that the hack does work, as my freshly-hacked BD30 was able to play my R3 NTSC DVD copy of "Hero" no problem.
Note that this hack was originally meant to be used on Panny SD DVD players; I was taking a pretty big gamble in seeing if it would work on a Panny BD player--nothing more demoralizing than to brick a $500 player, all in the name of making it capable of playing Asian DVDs. Info about the hack itself can be found in avforumdotcom (I believe linking to other forums is not allowed, otherwise I'd provide the direct link).
