"Why don't they hack of the mics and drop the price $100"
This makes sense to me, but I think Sony won't consider this
until they finally give up on the Hi-MD minidisc recorder for USA.
The SonyStyle web site doesn't display the minidisc machines
any longer, but Sony's pro web site (Broadcast and Business
Solutions) contines to offer the MZ-M200. At $440, it's BBSC's
cheapest "hi-fi" recorder.
It took Sony 2 years to remove the VU-meters from the PCM-D1.
Maybe we'll see a D50 without mics in Fall, 2009.
Flintstone