Bitrate for DVD question.

I'm working with an outside editor (my first time) who is using FCP. I have given him really nice DNxHD (1920x1080) files. What I am getting back (720-mpeg) looks average. My editor says that FCP works best with ProRes, so he first converts them. When he is done editing he exports the video as a .mov (?) and further converts this to an mpeg-2. His instructor (certified pro with Apple) has told him his workflow is correct and noted that a max video bit rate of 8.2 is too high - we should use something around 7.5.

I usually render using VBR because my content runs longer. When I have a short DVD I render up to 8.5. I have not had a problem with this.

My question is... What is the point where my DVD won't play on some DVD players because the bitrate is too high?

Bonus question... Is FCP really that picky that I can't import whatever I want and output to mpeg-2 without extra programs to do conversions?


Jeff

2-Xeon X5680 @ 3.33, EVGA SR-2 Mobo, 48GB DDR3, GTX 580 3072MB, 16TB Attached Storage, Win7, Vegas 11 x64