Thanks for the input and information!
I like the QT-428... seems to have a decent rep on here and since it's fanless, should be pretty quiet. I actually grabbed a Swann D19 and while it okay... the deal breaker was two leaf-blower fans.
They sell the QT-428 at Costco here in Canada with either the 1/3" CMOS ($449 CAD) or 1/4" CCD ($429 CAD). I know Costco.COM in the US is selling the CCD version for $279 right now... if it was that cheap here, it would be a no brainer. But Canada is the land of scarcity, so prices are always overinflated.
Any idea where the QT428 can be had on it's own for cheap... most places I've seen, the price of the DVR alone is more expensive than a bundle from Costco!