I've had no problems w/ my 30k as well, although it has only been used on average about 2-3 hours per week, for the past 5 months. I currently only use it to "show-off" my HD set using HD-NET tapes and D-THEATER titles.
I have *never* recorded using this DVHS Recorder (mainly due to no readily available and compatible HD-capable source). I was just about to splurge on the T-165 when I decided to take a look at the forum for one last hint of negativity, and, well, let's say I found it.
My two choices now are to buy the T-165 and hope for the best (#1 that it works, #2 that the many recordings won't eventually damage or render my player useless). Or, to buy something like the My-HD card (or other Hi-Def PC Video Card) and rig up my PC to record, then transfer "good" stuff to tape using the XP operating system. I'm primarily only interested in recording big-events (like the U.S. Open) and creating a nice demo-tape of different material, so maybe the PC card is the better way to go... Oh and one other thing, I do not need the T-165 for OTA tuning, my TV has a built in OTA tuner, so the T-165's sole existence for me would be to feed the JVC30K. Any thoughts?
-T