Finally had a few minutes to do a test burn.
Set at 8x, like my last burn... it went up to 6X, then down and up to 8X, where it pretty much stayed 'til the end. Avg - 7.4X... Max - 8X.
The buffer stayed around 100%... device buffer basically around 88-92%, with a few short burps down.
As far as the buffers during real burns, the device buffer is more active, often going way down quickly, and then back up quickly.
Does any of this suggest anything to you?
The WOPC you mentioned, would that suggest a faulty drive, or bad media?
Obviously, I can't be sure the discs are perfect, but before this, burning around 50 from this batch of TYG02, on my old drive, were all were flawless... not one coaster. Then that CD-RW thing started happening... got the new drive, and then the speed problems.
Thanks for hanging in there with me