Although DVD/VCR combos can be very useful machines, in my opinion DVD recorders with their rapidly dropping prices promise to be much more useful overall. VCRs have been long overdue for replacement by a digital device, and the rapidly falling sales of VCRs is testament to decreased interest in them. With prices falling not only for the DVD recorders, but also for blank media, this looks like the year for this technology. When I finally decide on the machine that I want, I plan to record the VHS tapes I need to save on DVD, and get rid of VHS forever.
They should make a unit where both the VHS and the DVD systems can record. The VHS should have capabilites for EVERYTHING too, including the old linear stereo track which new machines only play in mono.