I would buy this unit if it will. I burn a lot of discs on this format and it is important. And if it does not it should.

I did not try but I hightly doubt it.
Being a DVD-Rom only, i don't think the Oppo transport is gonna do dvd-ram.

for your purpose, why not try a pana DVD-S53K?
I think it's slightly inferior to an oppo-970, but the value is still there.
it should be on sale at BB.
For quality similar to the top Oppo, you have to to find a Pana S97.

The only players on the market which will play DVD-RAM are going to be the Panasonic players. OPPO, among others, no longer support DVD-RAM.