Can someone explain this Edirol R-4 Pro timecode puzzle to me?

[Stephen Pruitt]

On a recent posting on gearslutz, someone gives a very detailed review of the Edirol R-4 Pro. He does the usual picks and pans (a lot of pans), but then has this comment, which I found disturbing:

Fatal Error
SMPTE time code has the usual settings but lacks perhaps one of the most important formats. There is no setting for 23.97 fps which is used in high definition video.

BUT, wait, there's more. On the Edirol site, you see this:

When the Moving Pictures team needs to record high quality audio in combination with HD video, they chose the EDIROL R-4 Pro. Moving Pictures uses the R-4 Pro in combination with the JVC GY-HD250U video camera. The two make an ideal pairing because the R-4 Pro syncs up to the HD camera with the SMPTE time code allowing the crew to capture audio at 23.97 frames per second.

So, is it apparently the case that the R-4 Pro doesn't GENERATE 23.97 fps, but that it will LOCK ONTO a 23.97 fps signal if the camera outputs a 23.97 fps signal?

This is all very puzzling. I'm wondering if timecode is even worth the trouble. Perhaps a clapboard is just as good. . .

Alas. . .

Stephen