The LG is a very good pick for price vs performance. I would tend to say away from newer lite-on drives.
I have two plextor drives, a 716a (Pata), and a 755SA (SATA) drive. They are very good, and I like the bundled Plextools, worth the high cost, probably not. Would I buy them again, YES. Keep in mind Plextor is exiting the OEM ODD market. Supply and demand are keeping these drives prices up. I beleive the newer plextor (760) is a rebaged drive - would not buy.
I also have a Samsung SH-183L Sata drive that burns very well, and a registry edit alows quality scanning in nero, in lieu of plextools. I thing the LG allow scanning with out the registy hack.
Not sure of which has better ripping speed, I'm more on recording quality.
Remember Just Like cars - you can always get a lemon