Kurgan said:

I have NOT, tried to take the ISO image, "extract it" (nobody has really detailed how I'm supposed to properly do that I don't think) and then add in the layer break manually (which supposedly is a compatability liability anyway) and THEN burn with ImgBurn with the "fingers crossed" burn-at-low-speed thing. Is THAT the magical way to do it, or what?

The latest version of WinRar can extract from iso files - that's how I did it. Meanwhile, download the fix Ady posted on fanedit.org; extract the files; overwrite the old files in VIDEO_TS; create the ISO with PGCEdit (another freeware program); burn the iso with ImgBurn (at 2.4x). The fix includes more detailed instructions, but that's the gist of it. You don't need to manually add a layer break.

I tried it with Fujifilm media and encountered the exact same errors you described (freezes at layer break and won't play in some machines). Did it again with Verbatim DL discs and it has worked perfectly. Definitely invest in some, it's worth it.

Hope that helps!