bottom line
 

OK, the bottom line is... I can put my original PS2 games in my cd burner and if they don't need a patch, they can be copied like any other cd?

This is very foreign to me b/c I'm used to the dreamcast ripping debacle

I read some of the earlier posts and I think the process is now clear to me. I was thinking in terms of dreamcast backups-- please disregard my earlier post. I do have one question though, how can you tell if the game is on DVD media?

Er - if it's an original, it'll say on the silk screen printing.

If it's a copy (DVD-R), it won't be recognised in a CDreader but will in a DVD reader.