I purchased the Sony Multi-Function DVD Recorder (VRD-MC5) from Circuit City after a few hours of research. Here is what I wanted to do:

Take my mini-DVD's and compile them onto a 12cm double-layer DVD, choosing which chapters (in whole) to send to the writer. From what I studied, this was within the capabilities of the device.

When I got the VRD-MC5 home, it turned out to be a different story. The way it records to the destination depends on the type of media you use. In short, double-layer disks are restricted to analog input from a 403. Okay, so I have to use a normal DVD-R -- it'll take a few more but I can live with that.

Put one in the single layer DVD-R and hook up the 403 but now I only have two choices: Burn it 1:1 (one mini to one 12cm) or make a compilation of several mini-DVD's to one 12cm.

Not what I wanted. It does work, albeit slowly, and does a nice job of compiling the mini's onto a full size DVD. For me, the compilation feature certainly did not warrant the $230 price tag.

The circuit city website gave me the impression the unit had HDMI output. Forget it -- there is NO output at all. Okay, if you call viewing the built in 2.5" screen as output...

Bottomline: Might be useful to solve AVCHD issues (seems to be the selling point) otherwise, it is not worth it in my opinion, with the following exception:

You need analog capture to DVD.
You need to compile mini-DVDs to 12cm
You don't have a PC DVD-burner
You might consider it.

-Jack