I remember a time just a couple of years ago that people on boards like this were swearing there was nothing ever like HIMD and that there never would be because it was dang near perfect. Flash memory was just way too expensive and there were no really good flash memory recorders anyway.
The truth is that HIMD has been a great technology and it still is for many applications. It was always vulnerable to being shaken too hard but I've taped many, many events with my old MD and I never once had a single issue with lost recordings due to shaking. It's always been possible to lose your whole recording if you bumped the recorder hard enough when it was writing the TOC but I have never heard anyone complain about that either.
There are first generation HIMD units being sold for $125 to $150. Check out
this web site for examples. I bought a used HIMD that was barely used and got a bunch of discs for $115 (thanks twoheadedboy). They have their limitations and never technologies have finally overtaken them as the prime mobile recording device. But they had a great run and they still have their uses.
I think some people are so intent on proving to themselves that their investment in newer technology was a good idea that they rag on HIMD more than is justified. It was a great technology for it's time but it's time is nearly over. There are still reasons for buying HIMD. It can be bought much cheaper than the Edirol's if you don't mind buying 1st generation stuff (which sounds just as good as the latest HIMD stuff). I bought HIMD because I needed a mobile recording device to use with my video business. I don't need to worry about bouncing or 90 minute record time limitations or even the hassle of resetting the recording settings every time I put in a new tape. I also don't need 24 bit audio since I will have to render it down to 16 bit to work with my video format anyway. I also record a bluegrass band quite often and aside from not having 24 bit audio the HIMD I bought is still as good as any other mobile recording device around. And I'm not convinced that 24 bit audio is worth paying 3 times the price when I'm not recording studio quality for the band. If I was I would be buying something besides the Edirol anyway.
HIMD and before it MD were great technologies to have when there wasn't anything else. HIMD is still a great bargain technology and it is grea for matching up with current video standards. There are lots of other reasons to still use HIMD too. Battery life is a good example. Being able to use standard AA batteries is another (unless you want your recorder to be useless in 5 years because the price of a new battery is more than the price of a new recorder - I like having my old MD still work for me for many reasons - for example I can stick it in the pocket of a rodeo clown and not worry a bit if it gets smashed).
Just because it isn't the latest and greatest it doesn't mean that it is totally useless. I have good reason for saving the money off of what I would pay for a R-09. We shouldn't be so quick to criticize people who might want to buy good to see if they want to invest in better down the line. How many of us started playing keyboard on a Steinway Grand? I started on a Casio with maybe 36 keys. Now I have a great keyboard and maybe someday I'll have a top of the line keyboard if my arthritis doesn't kill my ability completely. There are always mitigating factors and reasons for all sorts of things. We should keep that in mind. Taping is a hobby and not everyone is interested in jumping right to the top of the game before they see if they actually like taping.