@Coopervid (and anyone else looking for a Pioneer right now) - 212V is currently available on Amazon and Newegg. Of course, it won't be patched like it would have been if I were to get it from Billycar or Asmcom, but when I eventually start using UHD discs I can reach out you folks and get it flashed.
Could you please elaborate a bit on that? Probably I have an understanding problem at this place. From what I have read in this forum, you would need a drive with a firmware from before Dec 2022 to be able to flash the drive. It seems very unlikely that you'll get a drive with an old firmware from any "normal" seller.
Is this still true, or has it become possible in the meantime to flash Pioneer drives that have a latter firmware version?
I'm seriously thinking of ordering one of the BDR-212V from the US Amazon site and let them ship it to Europe where I live. But I'll only do that if it is possible to flash the drive. Currently, I possess only HD discs, but no UHD discs, but later (as soon as I have a 4K TV) I'll probably buy some movies that I like the most in UHD, and then want to backup these, too.
Vinpower 212V has old firmware that can be flashed for UHD compatibility.