True, however company's can't use the term "DVD" when advertising Blu-Ray. That's definitely handcuffing the Blu-Ray backers.

I really doubt the consumer thought trends (more discs = more value) will be different between DVD and BD/HD-DVD.

I also doubt most consumers will care (at all) about the new interactivity of either format, be it iHD or BD-J.

All the announced BD players will apparently play DVDs so they will have to pay the appropriate license fees for that honour. That means they can use the term DVD in their advertising - they'll just have to be careful how they use it. My personal favourite current abuse is Sony's marketting of HDD DVD machines, which are clearly designed to confuse the market for Toshiba's new toy.

We've not even seen any real advertising for BD yet, so it's difficult to say just how they'll try and crack this new nut. I'm guessing there'll be a "Blu-ray compatible" sticker put on all the new HD TVs from the major manufacturers (bar Tosh of course). But if many consumers have been silly enough to be manipulated into thinking 2 disc sets are so great there should be every chance they can be convinced these new interactive features are also life altering features. Personally they make me think it'll take even longer just to get the damn feature to play.

BTW I remember hearing that HD DVDs were apparently capable of being replicated on retrofitted existing DVD lines. It was pushed quite often by Toshiba as a key advantage of their format. Looking now at the reality it seems the HD DVD replication taking place is on new lines capable of making both types of discs, not on old lines. It seems neither faction is above making wild claims to try and shore up their support.

I don't see how this is a wild claim at all. The claim was true. HD DVDs can be replicated on standard DVD lines. The fact that existing lines are likely already at capacity means that new lines were added, but the new lines are the same as the existing ones, so they can produce DVDs or HD DVDs.

The point of the claim, as I see it, is that existing DVD lines can be easily converted to HD DVD lines as demand for standard DVDs diminishes.

Nah, it was found the retrofitting of old lines was more expensive than just building new ones. Of course it would also be possible to retrofit a DVD line to produce BD, it would just need pretty much everything to be changed! In the end it seems it's cheaper to just build new lines for both. Though HD DVD retains a certain advantage in that it's new lines can be switched to produce DVDs as well.

Interesting. I hadn't heard about the retrofitting costs being so high. I just knew that it was technically feasible, so I assumed it would not be prohibitively expensive.