Best Quality importing 8mm analog and 8mm Digital Video Tapes

Hi folks,
I have imported several 8mm analog and 8mm digital 8 video tapes using a Sony Digital 8 camcorder and firewire cable into my iMac. As referenced many times, the quality is so-so due to the loss of half the lines; a deficiency in iMovie 8.
I just acquired a copy of iMovie 6HD to address this. Both are now installed on my iMac.
Would I lose any video quality if I first import into iMovie 6HD and then export from HD to iMovie 8 using the "Import from iMovie HD" option. In other words, does using iMovie HD as an interim step address the "line loss" problem associated with video tape input that exists in iMovie 8.
For diehard HD users this may seem counter-intuitive but I like some of the title and transition capabilities in iMovie 8 and am willing to sacrifice some editing function/capability if the original video quality is not compromised.
TIA,
Ed

Bengt,
Thanks for the reply. So importing first to HD doesn't solve my problem. I need to edit in HD and publish in HD or lose half of the interlaced video.
I am aware that importing from tape directly to iMovie'08 or 09 or 11 loses half the video. I was hoping that using HD as an intermediate would solve my problem.
Guess I need to learn editing in HD.
Could you please just confirm. I have become very comfortable editing in '08 and my first few looks at HD aren't getting me there....yet.
Thanks again.

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