Even after effects up until cs4 had the aspect ratio resized to 1024 x 576.
Which leads me to infer that someone spotted the error and fixed it ;)
WINDVD also resized PAL widescreen to 1024 x 576 so it seems that many players use this standard
Still don't make 'em right:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/commissioning/tvbranding/picturesize.shtml
http://forum.doom9.org/archive/index.php/t-132378.html
http://dvd-hq.info/faq.php (third question)
http://lipas.uwasa.fi/~f76998/video/conversion/
So basically it's a big mess. Whatever you did, Ady, was obviously right because you were matching SD to HD. Unless the HD footage doesn't really have square pixels... quick, someone get me the exact dimensions of Mark Hamill's face! (edit: both of 'em)
DE