Onkyo DV-CP500 Multi-disc DVD Player

How does the DVD player know which disks are the hardest to replace? This system has eaten two disks so far, and I still have been unable to replace one:(

This player has excellent sound quality, and excellent picture quality- even on a HDTV, EXCEPT, transitions are far from smooth. When switching between chapters on a DVD this player jitters, stutters and sometimes separated the audio from the picture. It often will slow down the audio in the middle of a movie and you have to stop and start again to get the audio back on track.
I was told by the sales man that this would have smooth transitions between disks and songs when played as a random shuffle, this was totally untrue, even opposite of what we experienced. The remote is less than par, not controlling all of the things the player is able to do by remote. Also the remote is required for many functions, and it would be detrimental if you lost it.

Features:
DTS(r)/Dolby(r) Digital/Digital Audio Output
Direct Digital Path
96 kHz-48 kHz Selectable Digital Output
MPEG Playback
MP3 Playback
Playback DAC -192 kHz/24-Bit
Video DAC -27 MHz/10-Bit
Dynamic range control
Digital Outputs -1 Optical/1 Coaxial
Analog Audio Output
CD-R/RW Playback Capability
S-Video output
Passes PLUGE Signals
Programmed Memory Playback
8-Language Soundtrack Capability
Dimmable Display -3-Mode

Specifications:
Power Supply -120 V AC, 60 Hz
Power Consumption -14 W
Linear Velocity
Single layer -3.49 m/s
Dual layer -3.84 m/s
Frequency Response (DVD Linear Sound)
48 kHz sampling -4 Hz to 22 kHz
96 kHz sampling -4 Hz to 44 kHz
192 kHz sampling
Frequency Response (Audio CD)-44.1 kHz sampling 4 Hz to 20 kHz
S/N Ratio (Digital Audio) -90 dB
Audio Dynamic Range (Digital Audio) -95 dB
Harmonic Distortion (Digital Audio) (1 kHz) -0.008 %
Wow and Flutter -Below threshold of measurability
Video Output -1.0 V p-p, 75 ohm, negative sync.,pin jack x 1
S-Video Output -(Y) 1.0 V p-p, 75 ohm, (C) 0.286 V p-p, 75 ohm, negative sync., Mini DIN 4-pin x 1
Component Signal Output -(Y) 1.0 V p-p, 75 ohm, negative sync.,pin jack x 1, (Pb)/(Pr) 0.7 V p-p, 75 ohm
Audio Output
Optical Audio - 22.5 dBm x 1
Digital Audio -0.5 V p-p, 75 ohm, pin jack x 1
Analog Audio -2.0 V RMS, 470 ohm, pin jack (L, R) x 1
Dimensions (W x H x D) -17 1/8"" x 5 1/16"" x 16 15/16""
Weight -15.4 lbs./7.0 kg
Supplied Accessories -Audio/Video cable x 1,S-Video cable x 1, Remote control (RC-502DV) x 1