Copying a DVD
Those participating in a PiF chain will need to copy discs ACCURATELY. This means including ALL content (e.g. ROM folder) on the copy. It's not uncommon for me to receive in a trade a disc that is missing the extra content. Quite simply, somebody didn't make a proper copy. The easiest way to avoid this is to rip an ISO image of the DVD to your hard drive, and then burn the image to a playable DVD. That way EVERYTHING on the source disc winds up on the copy. I use DVD Decrypter (ImgBurn's forerunner) for ripping the ISO. Note that some of these programs (DVD Decrypter & Nero, that I know of) might actually change IFO and BUP files (during the image ripping process) if the disc was authored a certain way and if certain settings in the software are selected. So you still need to have a clue... unless the DVD was authored in a manner that these programs find acceptable. Not that altered IFO and BUP files are the end of the world, I just think it is important to make copies that are faithful to the original.
As an aside... please don't make copies with DVD Shrink.
A. There is no way to include extra folders.
B. Even if you are using no compression, it'll change more than just the IFO and BUP files.
Burning the DVD from Downloaded Files
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I have no experience here. If there are any tips that can be shared, please do so.
Dual-Layer Issues (applicable to both items above)
Now, my DL drive is new so I have yet to burn DL with it. But I do know from previously ripping DVD-9's that DVD Decrypter asks something along the lines of "Do you want DVD Decrypter to determine the optimal position of the layer change?". What is the correct answer here? Is the original layer change important enough to keep consistent from copy to copy? Please advise.
As Jonno claims, ImgBurn is the best DL burning tool. I haven't used it for such but I imagine there are some settings that need to be configured for optimal burning, perhaps as it pertains to layer change. Jonno?
It's cliche, but a chain is only as strong as its weakest link. If someone screws up a copy early on and then that multiplies, there will be quite a few unhappy people out there. If you're not sure what you're doing, ask. If you still don't know, abstain from participating in the chain. Get it via B&P. Download it. Trade 1:1 for it. Just don't pass along a crap copy.
And finally, to Adywan: will there be MD5 checksums generated for the files on the DVD? Those will allow us to verify whether or not our copies are faithful to your original.