Crutchfield has a dozen models from Panasonic, Samsung, Sony, and Toshiba with prices starting at $199 (and going to $699). All of which record shows, play DVDs, and play one of the formats of self-recorded DVD media. Some even upconvert SD DVD to HD, and few other have built in harddrives for recording TV without needing new disks.
I've never tried any of them, becuase my cable box has a DVR, but what is wrong with any of these products? (which you seem to be non-plussed about)