Pioneer DVD-RW DVR-K05 superdrive can't erase or burn DVD-RW

Question

I've noticed lots of users are having issues with their slot-loading superdrives and I'm wondering if anyone's issue matches this one:
I can successfully read and write: CD-R, CD-RW, DVD-R, DVD-DL and can READ an already burned DVD-RW, but I can't erase a DVD-RW that's already burned nor can I burn a blank DVD-RW. Inserting a blank DVD-RW results in ejecting the disc after about 30 seconds, no error messages, just ejects.
I've tried Maxell DVD-RW and Memorex DVD-RW. Same results.
An already burned DVD-RW (from a different burner) mounts fine on the desktop, but when I try to erase using Toast 7, I get the following message:
The drive reported an error:
Sense Key = ILLEGAL REQUEST
Sense Code = 0x30, 0x05
CANNOT WRITE MEDIUM - INCOMPATIBLE FORMAT
It recognizes that it's a DVD-RW, but treats it as though it were a DVD-R.
Using Disk Utility to erase results in a more generic error message:
Optical Erase failed with the error:
Optical Erase Failed
I had an online chat with an Apple rep who had me reset the PRAM, no change. Then we tried from another account, no change. Their next recommendation was to re-install the OS using Archive and Install, which I have my doubts about doing. Failing that, they recommend bringing the iMac in to a service store to possibly replace the drive. But based on what I've been reading about all the different superdrive problems users are having, I'm reluctant to even do that for fear of having an even worse problem with a different drive crop up at some point.
Has anyone out there had this exact problem and found a solution yet?
Seems like a simple firmware update for the drive could fix everything but I'm unable to find one.
Here's the drive specs from the Apple System Profiler:
PIONEER DVD-RW  DVR-K05:
Firmware Revision: Q523
  Interconnect: ATAPI
  Burn Support: Yes (Apple Shipped/Supported)
  Cache: 2000 KB
  Reads DVD: Yes
  CD-Write: -R, -RW
  DVD-Write: -R, -RW, +R, +RW, +R DL
  Burn Underrun Protection CD: Yes
  Burn Underrun Protection DVD: Yes
  Write Strategies: CD-TAO, CD-SAO, CD-Raw, DVD-DAO
  Media: No

Answer 1

hi there--
instead of just resetting pram i would try booting to
open firmware holding apple-option-o-f and then type
in the following commands--
reset-nvram (hit return)
set-defaults (hit return)
reset-all (hit return)
the last command restarts the computer. see if that
works. if it doesn't then try resetting the smu.
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=301733
there is a remote possibility that this is software
related, but it almost never is, and these things
are much more likely to resolve your problem than
doing an archive and install, and they are much less
hassle free. let me know if that works. [ 8 ) ]
OK, I booted into open firmware and did all the resets. No improvement. In fact, now I can't even mount some DVD-Rs that I had successfully burned before and mounted before. The drive has always been a little touchy with some discs, especially DVDs, but now seems to be even more hit-and-miss. CD-R and CD-RW reliably mount but DVDs have me worried. It took a long time for my OS X install disc to mount and display the window.
I think it may be time to take it in to Apple and replace it. I may also consider purchasing a Firewire burner with a tray!
Just wondering also if PatchBurn would fix this by creating a new profile or if this truly is a hardware issue. http://www.patchburn.de/
Thanks for your help.