Here is the best way I have found so far to use the DVD-RAM format. Record movies with your Panasonic DVD recorder (it has the best quality I have seen so far). Insert the DVD-RAM disc into your Pioneer drive then copy the VRO file to a folder on your hard drive. (Pioneer drives will read but not write or erase DVD-RAM). If you don't have it already, get VideoReDo from the following site:
http://www.videoredo.com/ (trial version is available). Open the VRO file with VideoReDo and do all of your cuts and editing. Save the new MPEG file to your hard drive. Burn a DVD using any good DVD authoring software (I use ULEAD Movie Factory). You won't belive how professional your DVDs will look.
Good Luck!