I use ImTOO ripper personaly and a 5 GB DVDfile will come out perfect at 800 - 1000 MB the DivX files you download on Gnutella almost all have been ripped or repacked to fit a CD-ROM or are earlier versions of DivX

With a DivX rip that has been allowed infinite filesize, you will have trouble distinguishing between the DVD and the DivX. With DivX I mean 5.2.1 and above not 3ivX or those earlier formats and X-vid needs to much space for a good rip. I am not familiar with the h. 263 and h. 264 formats. But if they are better then everyone should use them. We need to standardize in some way or this formatproblem will go on forever.

The only reason I recoded an mp3 to mp3Pro was that WMP couldn't play the original. and there was no loss of quality

If you know of any better mediaplayer for windows please let me know. It has to many limitations. I have tried both iTunes and WinAmp, but I prefer WMP to them.
I have tried looking for one but can't find any with as good a medialibrary as WMP which could have even more options if it was up to me