Don't see a forum for this. Anyone have comments about Panasonic's DMR-ES18, or know where I can get objective comments?

It is mostly collectable vintage sets and repair discussion here. Might want to try Audio Karma or AVS forums, etc.

I've got a DMR-E80H that I use for time shifting which works fairly well. Granted the two TV sets I watch stuff I've recorded with it on were made in 1964 and 1971. The only gripe I have with mine is that the folks that designed it made it so that the settings and timer recording menus are only accessible with the remote which I don't have.