Can anyone shed any light on how to choose a DVD recorder? Does it matter
if it will record in only one of the + - formats??? Should he simply buy
Richer Sounds' latest best buy????

There's a bunch of DVD background here :
http://www.videohelp.com/dvd
May help you choose, but you probably need to forget formats go for ease of
use.
Go to one of the sheds and get a demo then buy cheap off the internet.
Rgds