The Hi-MDs can record with high quality at the best setting, but on low setting it can record for something like 45 hours! Thats pretty banging if you ask me. Maybe the recording isnt perfect, but I reckon it's still better than my walkman! And it wont be any worse than a low quality mp3 on an ipod. Maybe MD is not good for sending your masters to the pressing plant, but I always thought it was primarily meant as a personal music player, something you could take on the train or whatever.