yup, if there was an anydvd for linux i would be able to completely ditch windows (i can run dvd shrink under wine, and they may port nero recode) and i'd be first in line to buy another license.

of course you can use anydvd under vmware, but they you're still using windows and it's slower than native.

libdecss, vobcopy and perl-video-dvdrip are just not good enough.

as for linux dvd players, yes there's xine and mplayer, easily as good as media player, almost as good as powerdvd - hell you can even make xine look like powerdvd with a skin!