I believe 8 is the least amount of compression.

If you can get the exact copy in the smallest file and have the time to do so, the answer is way not. Not all hardware can handle level 8, but in this day and age most can. And the compression here shouldn't be the same as is inferred with mp3, which actually loses data.

Anyone here using Apple's lossless? ALAC? Is there another discussion about it somewhere?

I'm pretty sure spenno uses it.

I hate Nero and only use it as a last resort. I use IMg Burn or DVD Decrypter most of the time but it depends on what you are starting with on what you can use. What type are the files are you trying to burn?

We're fresh outta culture.

If you have a crappy computer you might be happier doing b+ps, rather than downloading stuff, unless you are super patient and don't need the computer speed for otherr stuff (like work or school). I'm not.

Honestly, there's not much activity around here because most people are downloading stuff, but there are still many, many generous souls who come and would be happy to b+p just about anything that exists for you. Traders are mostly nice people.

I hope that helps.

That helps a lot. I would be perfectly happy doing a B&P, but being an outsider made me unsure about the etiquette. To my mind, traders (especially those that are generous enough with their time and ability to make these shows available to the public) have earned their right to trade these shows. I feel weird just asking someone for a show since I don't have the equipment, the know-how, or the amount of shows required to reciprocate.

Make sense? I'm probably over-analyzing this.

B+P is going to be better than a trade for the very reason you listed. Most people here have everything already, it can be a pain to do a trade because there's a ton of searching to find something that's not already on our lists. A B+P is just you sending blank discs, they fill them and send them back to you in the postage-paid envelope you sent with the discs. It's an investment of time to burn the discs and take them to the post office, but it's better than trading for discs that aren't really wanted/needed.