Superdrive suddenly stopped recognizing DVDs and DVD-Rs

Question

Okay, I just spend 2 whole days trying to find any situation like this. Trouble shooting and experimenting.
Whilst burning a CD with Toast the process suddenly stopped during verification and an error was given. The CD spit out. It was just some music and I had work to do, so.. I went on to burning some data onto a DVD-R.
The Disk went in. Spun. Made a noise like the when a reader is trying to figure out what the media is. A Grrrrr. It spins some more. A long pause of about a minute.
Then the disk is spit out. No error. The disk is never recognized. Toast asks for blank media again. Keep in mind, just before this I was burning DVD-Rs. Same Media. Same process. Just stopped to burn the music CD.
So, I figure its bad media. I get about 1 or 2 on a spindle of disks. Usually at the bottom or the first disk. So, I put another disk in and try again.
Same thing. So, I try from Finder. Disk is never recognized. It is spit out the same way. (Thought that maybe something on Toast was corrupt)
Pretty freaked out, I put a burned DVD-R in. Nothing. Then a comercially pressed DVD. Spit out as well. (It was Elf. Which I would have spit out too) I then put a pressed CD in. (Madonna) It is recognized and iTunes starts up. The CD even plays.
I try to burn a CD-R. The process starts and when it is buring the Write out at the end it stops and gives me:
The drive reported an error:
Sense Key = BLANK CHECK
Sense Code = 0x00
NO ADDITIONAL SENSE INFORMATION
Then the disk is spit out after I hit Okay. Eeep.
Someone gives me a Maxell lense cleaner disk. Nothing to lose. I played it. Because it is a CD format. The drive recognizes it and I am able to run the clean process.
Then I got the same results. One attempt I get another error:
The drive reported an error:
Sense Key = HARDWARE ERROR
Sense Code = 0x44, 0x8E
INTERNAL TARGET FAILURE
Now all this is strange because... this is a 9 month old G5 dual with the superdrive that Apple put in it. Pioneer DVR-109 dual layer DVD-RW. There have been no unusual behavior leading up to this failure. The drive is not over used. I have not changed media.
I tested the drive with DVD-Rs from other spindles. And different brands. Including some old 1X DVD-Rs that I had forgotten in my hutch. (still sealed in there crystal cases) Same results.
So...has anyone ever experienced this with the 109? or even other drives. I can't believe it is a hardware issue because there hasn't been any previous signs of impending failure. (I have seen the deaths of several drives over the years) I am convinced that it is some obscure control files somewhere.
I ran Tech Tool Pro 4.1.1 on it and did a surface scan of a CD. The only way I could get it to recognize the drive. It reported the drive as unwritable, even though it identified it correctly. (as did System Profiler)
Sorry for the long explaination. But, I don't want to waste anyones time with avenues I have already explored.
Thanks to anyone who has some light to shed on this.
Gord
G5 Dual 2.3Ghz Power PC 3GB RAM, 2x120HDD, Superdrive DVD-RW dual layer   Mac OS X (10.4.6)  

Answer 1

Thanks Drew,
I have avoided the external drive option because I thought that they would be slower, or less reliable. However, we have been using those Maxtor Firewire external HDD around here and they are great. So, maybe an external DVD-R might be a good solution now.
(They used to be fairly poor options a few years ago.)
We have an Apple Store 2 blocks from my office here in San Francisco. Shiny new and it looks like a Titanium Cube. My experiences with the Genius Bar and before that Applecare have been the feeling that they spend a good deal of time trying to see how this could be my fault and not their responsibility.
Also, because I am a bit of a geek, by the time I resort to getting help from them, I have exhausted the usual "in the book" solutions. Usually, they are ill prepared for something unusual, that isn't caused by not having the power plugged in, etc.
I do customer service here for the more technical issues our customers have with Video on Demand and DVD issues. People can be really hostile when they call. So, I go out of my way to be pleasant and upbeat when I am dealing with my problems. Apple Care/Genius Bar people aren't rude or anything. I just get the feeling that they are pressured to not spend too much money making customers satisfied with their hardware. (a matter of policy is my bet)
I use my Macs because their software is unparalled in its ease of use and professional application. When I have to deal with duplication houses and their techs. I often hear a sign of relief when I tell them that I am using DVD Studio Pro to author my masters. Because this means that the DVD-Rs I send them are correct and compliant in everyway.
Apple software rocks. I am encouraged by their move to Intel chips recently for their hardware.
Thanks again Drew. I am working on the permissions today and if it looks like a hardware issue, I am off to look at an external. Great suggestion.
Gord
G5 Dual 2.3Ghz Power PC 3GB RAM, 2x120HDD, & 15" Powerbook   Mac OS X (10.4.6)