Finally got there - discovered that the problem I was having was that the files were in a non-standard resolution my DVD player didn't like. Got a program to resize them (took 10 hours to run it), then a DVD authoring program to make a DVD out of the resulting MPG files.
And I now have Samurai jack episodes 33-37 on DVD! Hurrah for the (eventual) wonders of technology.
I've now set the Tivo's recording resolution to DVD standard, so it should be easier next time.
Further to the post yesterday about hedonism - I get a physical thrill out of solving things - an actual high. Sorting out something like the Tivo today feels better to me than pretty much anything else - like a cross between floating and having electricity running through my veins.