Model DMR-EH50 when I turn it on it just reads "Please Wait". I tried unplugging it and plugging it back in but it doesn't do anything. I have to press the power button in for about 30 seconds to shut the system off. Panasonic wants me to mail it to Texas and pay for repair. Not sure it is worth what it will cost me! Any ideas?

I don't really have an answer, but a similar story and a couple of suggestions;

I had a different Panasonic model but similar to yours, and it did the same thing. You could try running a Cleaning DVD through it that cleans the dust etc... out of it. I did that, and got more disks reading, however I think ultimately, it's on it's way out. As you mention, fixing it will probably not be worth it - You could go get a Blu-Ray with DVD capabilities instead.

The second option is to start bashing it around a little, maybe it'll move parts back into place. This is of course if you've decided that it's already broken, so what have you got to lose - Haha. Then, if that doesn't work, you can go all out and smash the hell out of it. How often do you get to do that? Well worth what you'd get for the thing on eBay (Since it's broken).