AB,
My point was in regards to recording on a PC - I've had too many experiences where levels are whacked, drop-outs wreck the take, mouse cord gets caught in guitar wtrings - whatever, it's a nightmare.
I still disagree regarding the mixing/mastering aspect. For one simple example, I had a track with multiple vocal takes where pieces of each take were required to make one acceptable track. I could have comped it together on the recorder, but in n-Track I was able to simply draw volume envelopes over each track and be done with it - once saved, that 'automated' mix was always there.
The problem with the MR-8, where I feel your pain, is that it's not possible to track an entire project without copying to the computer. With the VF160 there's room to work on the actual 'recording' and 'playing' aspect of a song until all that remains is the mixing/mastering (most of which could still be done on the VF.)
I contacted a mail order place in town to see about picking one up (instead of waiting for delivery) and got no response - business must be good.
Later.