Best DVD recorder for miniDV camcorder?

Using a DVDR to do a straight dump to DVD will work, but I can't give you any idea regarding the quality retention when using that method. If, however, you want to do any editing, it would be a practical nightmare at best. Plus no frontend menu of much worth. I recommend you repair your current camera or, in all likelihood due to cost of repair, get a new one.

If your camcorder has a S-video output(and if you use wide screen it will need to be able to output full wide screen, and not letterboxed 16:9) you should be able to get about as good as the standard DVD format is, using a Panasonic EA-18.
If your camcorder outputs letter boxed WS or only has composite output, I think you'll be disappointed with any standalone DVDR.
As Yonder said editing may be difficult, but if your PC supports RAM discs you could easily import the video back to your PC and do the editing on your PC. I think you could use discs other than RAM, but I think RAM may be easier. I don't personally do this but am just going off what I've read.
Panasonics prefer - or RAM discs but will record to all formats including DL.