Besides the Region Codes business, there ARE different types of recordable media. First though, as far as machines available to consumers for VHS and DVD, there are some, pricey, but they are available. However, they only PLAY DVDs, and not record them. They do record on VHS tapes.

Now, a computer can do the recording of the DVDs, but you will have to ascertain if ALL of them, once recorded will work on DVD players for consumers. Remember the problems with CD-R and CD-R/W. DVDs are even more confusing. They have DVD-R, DVD+R, DVD-RW, DVD+RW, and DVD-RAM (perhaps even DVD+RAM). Not all drives can record all of the various formats.

Personally, I would recommend waiting a couple more years to see what shakes out.