Earl,

I have two theories.

1. No MPEG Encoder: In order to record an analog HD signal on a digital MPEG based recorder, like a HDV or DVHS VTR, the signal must first be encoded. In the case of a VTR, you of course want it to record real time, thus you need a real-time, hardware-based MPEG encoder. Harware-based MPEG encoders are expensive to do well. If the DVHS machine had an encoder built-in, it would be way more expensive that it is now. Decks that do have analog HD inputs, like DVCPro HD, D5HD, and HDCam cost tens of thousands of dollars more.

2. Copyright issues: I imangine that the entertainment community would not be very happy to hear of a digital HD VTR that could make near-perfect HD copies of commercially-released movies! By not having analog HD inputs, making analog component to analog component HD copies is not possible.

Regards, Carl