Could not agree more, Joe
Besides, the game does not use Bink Video but its predecessor Smacker (smackw32.dll)
The patches mentioned by TippeX should work, however, I would replace other functions with 33 C0 40 C3: at 2CD00 in sc.exe, at 59F70 in sc3dfx.exe and at 3E90 in scd3d.exe (raw offsets each time).
The program calls these functions first, and if they fail, the "TippeX-functions" are called. Result is the same, but you will save some CPU cycles, always better, especially in this hot weather
Good idea to check for a CD. The program does not use GetDriveTypeA but it checks whether the amount of free sectors is zero
But we better wait until Pokopo returns...