There's just so many questions. (importing and the such)

[flamemasterelan]

Okay, so...yeah.  Looks like I'm a total n00b about this, and I can't seem to get any straight answers(or, at least, not any answers I can actually understand), so I figured I'd bring them to the source of my confusion.

To start, I'd like to explain that this all began because I found out about the Tales of Destiny remake patch that you guys are working on, and I started looking into how I would go about importing, and then playing it.  Now, from what I understand, I'm going to need to import a copy of Tales of Destiny: Director's Cut, rip the dvd, patch the ISO, and then burn it onto a new dvd in order to play it.  It all sounds so simple, right?  Except, I'm lost on a few things.

First, I'm under the impression that a DVD burner would be region coded.  If I'm wrong, please tell me, but if I'm right...how would I go about ripping the data off of the disc?  Or would it not matter, since I'm ripping, instead of playing?

Second, while the remaining steps are pretty simple to understand, I'm left with the end result of having to mod my PS2 in order to play the game.  I'd like to avoid hard mods, as I have no experience with a soldering iron, and I don't know how much longer this PS2 will last, anyway.  I've had a friend reccomend HDLoader, but as far as I've read, it doesn't support import/backup discs without a rather complicated-sounding procedure.  Another friend suggested that I use Swap Magic in conjunction with HDLoader so that I'd only have to do the "Swap" part the first time.

Basically, yeah.  I need help.  If someone could explain my first problem, and give a work-around, it'd be great.  But, perhaps more importantly, I need some advice as to what the hell I should do with my PS2.  Thanks for your time.