DVDxRW drives for backup

Now that the price of a Dual layer DVD writer has fallen to approximately the cost of three TR-5 tapes, I am looking at dumping the TR-5 tape drive and getting a DVD writer for backups. Does anyone have recommendations on brands, pro or con. Media life figures for RW media. And backup packages? I've been using AMANDA fairly successfully, but am open to other packages. TIA, Jeffrey