I haven't read through this thread from first word to last, but just putting a VIDEO_TS folder on a DVD doesn't necessarily make it auto run in a DVD player.

I use Toast to burn DVDs with a VIDEO_TS folder, to sell to my happy customers. if I recall, the Toast Copy UDF-ROM option sets a bit on the DVD disc, that allows for the auto run/play.

I don't use Finder to copy a VIDEO_TS folder to a blank.

That and I don't believe one should be doing any fiddling with the VIDEO_TS files. Some of the files are the brains of how the DVD will play, including menus and what the remote functions will do.

And RIPping might be thwarted by copy protection.