Sony RDR-HX900 DVD Recorder with 160 GB Hard Disk Recorder
Very high quality and very easy to use
This thing is superb.  Recording w/ highest quality leaves about 40 hours of disk space.  In this mode the video and audio quality is wonderful.  It is very intuitive to use.  Remote is nice (I would have preferred lower battery life and a backlight but this isn't all that important in the grand scheme of things).  Menus are logical.  Plenty of connectivity options for both input and output.  Simultaneously reads and writes flawlessly - meaning you can start watching your show 15 minutes after start time and then skip cmxls (with a single touch you can go forward 30 seconds).  Yes, it's expensive.  Yes, it's worth it.  Glad I waited for this option.  DVD+RW alone isn't enough - you need a big hard drive to truly be free from VHS!