@SteveG, so you are saying that the Avid recommendation isn't a good one? At least that is what "very rash" implies.
Folks, all I am saying is: There are supposed to be standards (and Audio CDs are pretty old now), and I have never understood why companies (software and hardware) can't stick to those standards. Both software and hardware companies are making it difficult for users. And I know from experience, you can't develop software that performs a task in the physical world without having hardware to test on. Software doesn't exist in a bubble.
I don't see anything more productive coming out of this conversation, but I'll just leave with a note that my Sweetwater rep can't even honestly recommend any hardware either, and says he continues to have issues reported by customers. So I'm not alone. As much as I enjoy collecting and browsing through CDs, I think it is time for the format to die and put an end to the frustrations those of us producing music have had to contend with over the years.