Toshiba HD-DVD Player question (DVD region related)

[Am_I_Evil]

ok...so i've got a HD-A3....as far as i know HD-DVDs are region free....but i have a question that's regular DVD related...

is the player also region free for regular DVD (ie: can i buy a region 2 DVD from Japan and play it) or is it locked to region 1? (same question for the 360 HD-DVD player as i have it as well)

edit: i guess if neither of these work i can still buy the movie, change the region on my computer drive (i believe its allowed a few changes), rip/copy the discs to region 1 (i believe its possible but i haven't ever done it) and burn that...and then i could just put the original DVDs away for safe keeping somewhere...

reasoning:
i want this-
Grindhouse: Six-Disc Limited Edition comes out on March 21st, 2008.
... in Japan. Which is fine for the enlightened among us with region-free DVD players.

Disc 1: Death Proof (Extended Film)
-English DTS, English DD, Japanese dub
-Japanese subtitles

-Japanese Theatrical/TV trailers
-Staff/Cast Profiles (Text)
-What is Grindhouse? (Text)

Disc 2: Planet Terror (Extended Film)
-English DTS, English DD, Japanese dub
-Japanese Subtitles

-Rodriguez commentary
-International/Japanese trailers
-Staff/Cast Profiles (Text)
-What is Grindhouse? (Text)

Disc 3: Death Proof bonus materials
-Special Message to Japan from Tarantino
-Staff and Cast interviews on Death Proof
-Stunts on Wheels: The Legendary Drivers of Death Proof (20:39)
-Introducing Zoë Bell (8:59)
-Kurt Russell as Stuntman Mike (9:34)
-Finding Quentin's Gals (21:14)
-The Uncut Version of "Baby, It's You" Performed by Mary Elizabeth Winstead (1:4Cool
-The Guys of Death Proof (8:16)
-Quentin's Greatest Collaborator: Editor Sally Menke (4:3Cool
-Double Dare Trailer (2:36)

Disc 4: Planet Terror bonus materials
-10-Minute Film School (11:52)
-The Badass Babes of Planet Terror (11:50)
-The Guys of Planet Terror (16:32)
-Casting Rebel (05:34)
-Sickos, Bullets and Explosions: The Stuns of Planet Terror (13:1Cool
-The Friend, The Doctor and The Real Estate Agent (6:42)

Disc 5: Grindhouse (191 minute theatrical cut)
-English DD, Japanese dub
-Japanese subtitles

Disc 6: Grindhouse bonus disc (106 minutes) EXCLUSIVE TO JAPAN
-Grindhouse - US Trailer
-2006 San Diego Comicon
-Tarantino Interview (About the homages in Death Proof, About Planet Terror, Use of Music, Possible Sequel to Death Proof)
-Staff/Cast comments
-The Directors of the Fake Trailers
-Coments on past Grindhouse Films
-Making Of Planet Terror

[Redshirt #24]

Believe me, if HD DVD (or Blu-ray, either one) players were region free regarding SD DVDs it'd be eighty different varieties of kickass. Unfortunately, though, they're not; I'd love to pop my Region 3 Wonderful Days into my HD-A20 and run it at 1080p to my TV, but alas...