So, if my BCD-1's drive or laser stops working my unit is basically junk.... so sad and disappointing. Is it better then to use external drives with a BDA unit so as to have an option even thought the risk of jitter is greater with a two unit system ? 
While everyone has different preferences, shelf space, priorities, etc., those are my preferences (and I've probably used the term expensive door stop in some posts). I had the BCD-1 (bought it new). A bit after the BDA-1 was out, I bought a used one and sold the BCD-1 for $25 more than the cost of the BDA-1. I would have bought a BDA-1 at the time of the BCD-1 purchase if it was available. I can tell you having owned both and having them in the same system, one would be hard pressed to hear any differences on CD playback. At the time I got the BDA-1, I had a (solid state) modded Oppo BDP-83. I still have the BDP-83 but the drawer is more or less frozen and since I don't do disc playback (except if someone brings one over and I have newer Oppo players I may not even look into repair). With the BDP-83 and an HDMI audio de-embedder (there's an old thread in the discless circle), taking an SACD and outputting 24/88.2 via HDMI and into the coax input of the BDA-1, overall I preferred the presentation of the BDA-1 (the highs might have been a slim hair better on the analog outs of the player but the soundstage and presentation in my opinion was better using the de-embedder and the BDA-1). I've owned expensive disc spinners. Now into file playback. Electro-mechanical devices will just have more wear and tear than a DAC. The drive manufacturer doesn't produce the drive forever and the manufacturer of the CD player has no control as the time frames the drives will be manufactured, A DAC gives one the option (assuming one is interested of course) to play higher resolution files than CDs too. Nothing wrong with anyone's preferences either way.
