leftman: there are a couple of alternative soundcards that can give you optical outs. zoltrix has one, and it's around 600 pesos (converted from hk$). actually, if you're not that picky, using the analog line outs with an ok cable should produce passable recordings (excuse me while i duck for cover from the hardcore audiophiles)
i've been using the sharp mt831 for almost 2 years. it's the last model before they introduced mdlp, so i just missed it, but i'm not planning to upgrade anytime soon. personally, i think md's are great for their size and portability, but one of the biggest deterring factor for me is the recording time.
unless you have a deck or component that can do high-speed recording, you're stuck with real time (parang back to the good old days of cassette dubbing). nakakatamad minsan magrecord. that, and if you're going on a fairly long trip, there's still the hassle of lugging a lot of discs.
that said, there's still the coolness factor that mds will always have. it probably never went mainstream in manila because it's not mainstream in the US (knowing how hopelessly colonial we still are), plus the cost and lack of availability.
for price reference, 10 packs here average around 330-400 pesos, depending on brand (can go as high as 800 pesos). hope it helps...