They are really for different purposes. If you are looking at the integrated DVR, that is a much better choice than a DVDR. For watching TV, that is. A DVR's purpose is to ease your TV watching, letting you watch what you want, when you want. A DVDR's main purpose is archiving shows.

Panasonic's DVD-RAM is the closest to DVR capability, esp when combined with a HDD in their best models. For saving money, this could be a good method to get some of the best of both technologies. Although with cable and an integrated box, I wonder how expensive the DVR really is, probably not much compared to a $700 DVDR.