Anyone know of a Blu-ray standalone recorder coming to the U.S. in the near future, or if one can be imported to use in the U.S.?

If the purpose of such a recorder is to record HD or digital TV shows on a distributable and copyable disks, then such a product may encounter legal problems in the US market because of copyright issues. Few company would undertake such a big risk of getting suied by the networks and media companies for such a small segment of the market.
On the other hand the good news is that we have this forum where people have figured out how to accomplish the task on their own. Basically you just record the digital show and then author the disk in Bluray format.
I just made Bluray disks in full HD and 5.1 sound track, playable in PS3, from the Olympics Opening ceremonies. The PQ is identical to the original. As far as I am concerned archiving all the HD shows in BD, and play back in PS3 is the best way to go.

Frankly, I doubt that it is legal issues that are keeping Blu Ray recorders off the market in the US -- more likely, the manufacturers see a very limited market for expensive Blu Ray recorders trying to compete against leased cable and satellite DVRs.

Frankly, I doubt that it is legal issues that are keeping Blu Ray recorders off the market in the US -- more likely, the manufacturers see a very limited market for expensive Blu Ray recorders trying to compete against leased cable and satellite DVRs.

Oh, most definitely. Given what a Blu-Ray Disc record/rewrite drive runs for at present, the cost of a recorder with one integrated is going to be more - and given that the sales of HD DVRs have been poor to date - and such a device would cost more than, say, a TiVo HD costs now - no CE vendor selling in the US is going to want to take the risk. It's a sucker bet.