kernel 2.4.* vs 2.6.* and ATAPI dvd question

[Chinook <chinook.nr@tds.net>]

I have two optical devices in internal bays.

ATAPI CD-R/RW 32X10 T.GA (/dev/hdc, ) at /media/cdrom0 [CD-R; CD-RW; 
CD-ROM][Error] [SAO; TAO; RAW; SAO/R16; RAW/R96R]

ATAPI PIONEER DVD-RW  DVR-103 1.90 (/dev/hdd, ) at /media/cdrom1 [CD-R; 
CD-RW; CD-ROM; DVD-ROM; DVD-R] [Error] [SAO; TAO]

Even though I've been able to write to a dvd, I've had continuing issues 
with doing so.  I've been doing more research and this is what I get 
down to:

From /usr/share/doc/cdrecord/README.ATAPI.setup

For current stable kernel 2.4.27 it gives instructions on how to setup 
an ATAPI CD-RW/DVD+-RW recorder on Debian.  Trouble is they include lilo 
and I'm using grub.  Then below it says (I think) that such is not 
needed with kernel 2.6.* and explains undoing the previous steps for 2.4.*

What I get out of this is that maybe I should upgrade to kernel 2.6.* ???

Is this a good step for me and what all is involved?

Thank you,
Lee C