re: DVD/VCR revisited
I did some quick searching and indeed the 600 model does not have its own tuner. Strange. The 650 model does have a tuner, so you probably want to try to find that one.
Does your Cable come with a receiver, than pipe into your tv? If so the cable box is your tuner and the 600 will be fine. If the cable comes straight in to your vcr or tv, than you will need to buy a machine with a tuner like the 650 model.
the 650 model is about $30 more on Amazon. A quick search didn't bring the 650 up on Sears, but I didn't look very hard either.