1. The compression for describing DVDs are not variable: There are 5 Kopressionstypen (60, 120, 240, 360, 480 minutes) - so very good to pretty bad picture quality when burning DVD. Unfortunately, between the type of 120 minutes and 240 minutes, no more stage. Just 90- and 180-minute modes would but useful if you want to take a normal two feature films on a DVD and still want a better quality than the 120- or 240-minute compression. I know devices because you can variably adjust the compression of the desired film length and thus always get the best results - the Toshiba can not unfortunately.
2. In standby mode, the yes especially if you have programmed TV program to record, a necessary evil, is running all the time, the fan of the device, which not only consumes power, but it is unfortunately also not to be missed.
3. It is annoying when copying old VHS recordings to DVD and HDD that have smaller dropouts on the videotape cause dubbing is canceled and appears on the screen: "copy-prohibited". Since you have caught on quickly with Toshiba - not every collapse of a VHS image is due to Macrovision. So there is a either no choice but to piece than the film (and fast forward a few seconds at dropouts and then take) or copy it with another DVD recorder, which is less "paranoid".